A fragile truce between Israel and Hamas came into force in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, amid scepticism over how long the Egyptian-brokered deal would hold. It is the first formal ceasefire since Hamas’s takeover of the territory just over a year ago, which triggered a crippling Israel blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The deal calls for a halt to Hamas rocket fire on Israel and Israeli strikes on Gaza. It also requires Israel to progressively ease its blockade of the territory where most of the 1.5 million people depend on foreign aid.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, whose government boycotts Hamas as a terrorist outfit, warned on Wednesday that the ceasefire would be “fragile” and could be “short-lived.”

World leaders welcomed the truce news, but Israelis and Palestinians were wary. A senior Hamas official said that border crossings used to import goods into Gaza would be partially opened several hours after calm settles in, while talks to open the Rafah border with Egypt could follow a week later.

The peace in Middle East is beneficial for both Arabs and Israelies. How long more it will take for both parties to understand the basic fact that unless they both respect each other’s right to live in peace, people will keep on dieing on both sides.  Both parties have the great responssiblity on their shoulders to make this truce effective for at least six month and then extend it later.

All the best to both the people of Israel and Palestine.