Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to an indefinite ceasefire, putting an end to seven weeks of catastrophic loss of life and destruction – but on terms that are likely to leave many on both sides of the conflict wondering what had been achieved.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the main militant groups in Gaza, the Palestinian Authority and Israel agreed to stop fighting on Tuesday evening, bringing relief to civilians on both sides of the border after rocket fire and air strikes continued in the hours running up to the ceasefire. One Israeli was killed and several injured by a mortar ahead of the announcement, according to Israeli media.

The terms of the deal – brokered by the Egyptian government, and reached on the 50th day of the conflict – are expected to be similar to those agreed at the end of the previous war 21 months ago. Israel will open crossings on its border to allow the movement of people and goods, and extend the permitted fishing zone off the coast of Gaza. Rafah, the border between Gaza and Egypt will also be opened; reconstruction of Gaza will begin.

More difficult issues will be deferred for further talks in about a month. They include Hamas's demands for an airport and seaport in Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners, and Israel's insistence of the disarmament of militant groups and the return of the remains of two of its soldiers killed in the fighting.

The deal follows at least eight temporary ceasefires during the course of the conflict.

A formal announcement was due to be made in Cairo. Ziad Nakhallah, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader and one of the members of the Palestinian negotiation team, told the Guardian: "We have reached an agreement for a ceasefire according to the 2012 deal, which includes opening the borders, and bringing in building materials. The Israeli delegation agrees, and each side is now calming the battlefield down."

In Gaza City, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said: "An agreement has been reached between the two sides and we are awaiting the announcement from Cairo to determine the zero hour for implementation."

Israel had accepted the ceasefire, although some cabinet members opposed it, Israeli media reported.

In Gaza, more than 2,100 people were killed, most of them civilians, including about 500 children. At least 11,000 people were injured and more than 17,000 homes were destroyed or badly damaged. Around a third of Gaza's 1.8m population has been displaced, and many are now living in United Nations shelters. Schools, hospitals, factories, farms, mosques and infrastructure such as power and water plants were hit. Reconstruction could take up to 10 years, say analysts.

On the Israeli side, 64 soldiers died and four civilians – including a four-year-old boy – were killed. Hundreds of families relocated from homes near the Gaza border to safer areas further north.

The Israeli military estimates that the weapons stocks of Hamas and other militant groups have fallen to less than a third of their pre-war levels, by being fired or destroyed in airstrikes.

Three of Hamas's top military commanders were killed last week, and the fate of its military chief, Mohammed Deif, is still unknown after his wife and two children were killed in a massive airstrike last Tuesday. However the organisation has gained kudos among Palestinians for putting up strong resistance against Israel's military onslaught.

Israeli leaders are likely to claim to have severely weakened Hamas over the past seven weeks, and restored "quiet" to areas within rocket range.

Egyptian leaders will hope to gain international credibility from brokering the ceasefire agreement after weeks of abortive talks hosted in Cairo.
(The Guardian)