Israel and Hamas agree to ceasefire to end bloody 11-day war

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said the "ceasefire is welcome".

Smoke rises following Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City (Hatem Moussa/AP)

Israel and Hamas have announced a ceasefire, ending an 11-day war that caused widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip and brought life in much of Israel to a standstill.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel accepted the Egyptian proposal after a late-night meeting of his Security Cabinet.