Rice: ‘We Think It’s Very Important’ That the Latest Israel/Hamas Cease-Fire Hold

‘We are hopeful, but we are mindful of the record that these cease-fires haven’t held for very long in the past’

RICE: "Well, we think it’s very important that it holds, Savannah, because there’s been a great deal of suffering in Israel and in Gaza. And our hearts go out to the people of Israel who suffered rocket attacks and tunnel attacks, and of course, the horrific suffering in Gaza. So we are hopeful, but we are mindful of the record that these cease-fires haven’t held for very long in the past. We think it’s very important that both sides remain committed to it and, more importantly, that they use this opportunity of the 72-hour cease-fire to begin the negotiations that we have been working [on]so energetically through Secretary Kerry, President Obama, and others to get off the ground so that the underlying causes of the conflict in Gaza can be addressed at the negotiating table."

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