November 19, 2012 -Day Six - Missile Fire Down, Ceasefire May Be Near

Today there was a major drop in the quantity of missile fire on Israel. A total of 100 missiles and mortars were fired on Israel today. The majority of the rockets were targeted at the area right around the Gaza Strip. There were no missiles fired at the Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area today. It looks like Hamas may be having difficulty in its ability to shoot.

In the meantime, negotiations have been going forward in Cairo between Hamas and Israel through Egypt. Reports suggest that they are close to reaching a agreement. The terms of the ceasefire will include not interfering with Israeli patrols along the border. Hamas will get a loosening of the blockade, something that many Israeli defense officials have favored in any case. They are very close reaching an accord. However, the question remains, how to make sure the treaty is honored. Of course, the entire deal could all far apart at any moment.

Israel seems to have killed three key members of the Islamic Jihad. If this is the case, that would be a major accomplishment.