UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and United States Secretary of State John Kerry announced, in a joint statement, Thursday that the United Nations Representative in Jerusalem, Special Coordinator, Robert Serry, has received assurances that all parties have agreed to an unconditional humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza.

The humanitarian cease-fire will commence at 8 am local time on Friday, August 1, 2014 and will last for a period of 72 hours unless extended.

During the cease-fire Israeli Defense Forces on the ground will remain in place.

"This ceasefire is critical to giving innocent civilians a much-needed reprieve from violence. During this period, civilians in Gaza will receive urgently needed humanitarian relief, and the opportunity to carry out vital functions, including burying the dead, taking care of the injured, and restocking food supplies.  Overdue repairs on essential water and energy infrastructure could also continue during this period," said the UN Secretary General and US Secretary of State said in the statement.

The statement added that Israeli and Palestinian delegations will go to Cairo for negotiations with the Government of Egypt, at the invitation of Egypt, aimed at reaching a durable cease-fire.