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Israel and Hamas declare 72-hour truce (3rd August, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 6

The state of Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas started a 72-hour ceasefire on Friday morning. The halt in hostilities was engineered by America's Secretary of State John Kerry and the U.N. Secretary-General Ban-ki Moon. The humanitarian truce will give Palestinians time to restock on basic supplies such as food and medicines. They also need to repair power stations which have been put out of action during the fighting of the past three weeks. Israelis and Palestinians are also to meet in Cairo, Egypt to talk about the possibility of a permanent truce between the two sides. They will talk about resolving the underlying differences that have caused unrest for decades.

Hamas said it would abide by the pause in fighting. Its spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said: "Acknowledging a call by the United Nations and in consideration of the situation of our people, resistance factions agreed to a 72-hour humanitarian and mutual calm…as long as the other side abides by it." He added: "All the Palestinian factions are united behind the issue." The day before the ceasefire was announced, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country would continue to destroy the tunnels that have been dug under the Gaza-Israel border. John Kerry called the ceasefire "precious time." He said: "It is a moment for the different factions to be able to come together with the state of Israel."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Level 4 or Level 5

Sources

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/28596609
http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/Hamas-agrees-to-72-hour-truce-announced-by-the-US-and-UN-369675
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/07/un-us-announce-72-hour-gaza-ceasefire-2014731214037997737.html

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. GAZA: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Gaza. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

Israel / Hamas / ceasefire / hostilities / basic supplies / power stations / differences / pause / United Nations / resistance / calm / issue / tunnels / precious / moment

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. PEACE: What can these parties do to bring about peace? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	Possible actions	Will they?	Why (not)?
Hamas
Israel
USA
United Nations
Egypt
Palestinian Authority

4. TWO STATES: Students A strongly believe Israel and a Palestinian state will coexist in our lifetime; Students B strongly believe this will not happen. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. FIGHTING: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "fighting". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.	Israel and Hamas started a 3-day ceasefire on Friday morning.	T / F
b.	The truce was engineered by the leaders of Israel and Hamas.	T / F
c.	The two sides will meet in Egypt to talk about a permanent ceasefire.	T / F
d.	The sides will only discuss the issue of tunnels when they meet.	T / F
e.	Hamas said it doubted if Israel would abide by the ceasefire.	T / F
f.	Hamas said all Palestinian groups supported the truce.	T / F
g.	Israel said it would stop destroying the tunnels during the ceasefire.	T / F
h.	John Kerry called the ceasefire a "precious moment".	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.	state	a.	groups
2.	hostilities	b.	key
3.	basic	c.	settling
4.	permanent	d.	demolish
5.	resolving	e.	lasting
6.	pause	f.	little while
7.	call	g.	nation
8.	factions	h.	request
9.	destroy	i.	fighting
10.	moment	j.	cessation

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.	halt in	a.	action
2.	put out of	b.	for decades
3.	the possibility of a permanent truce	c.	of our people
4.	talk about resolving the underlying	d.	calm
5.	caused unrest	e.	between the two sides
6.	abide by the pause	f.	hostilities
7.	in consideration of the situation	g.	the Gaza-Israel border
8.	mutual	h.	differences
9.	tunnels that have been dug under	i.	together
10.	be able to come	j.	in fighting

GAP FILL

The (1) ____________ of Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas started a 72-hour ceasefire on Friday morning. The (2) ____________ in hostilities was engineered by America's Secretary of State John Kerry and the U.N. Secretary-General Ban-ki Moon. The humanitarian truce will give Palestinians time to restock on (3) ____________ supplies such as food and medicines. They also need to (4) ____________ power stations which have been (5) ____________ out of action during the fighting of the past three weeks. Israelis and Palestinians are also to meet in Cairo, Egypt to talk about the possibility of a (6) ____________ truce between the two sides. They will talk about (7) ____________ the underlying differences that have caused unrest for (8) ____________.

permanent
basic
resolving
state
decades
repair
halt
put

Hamas said it would abide by the (9) ____________ in fighting. Its spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said: "Acknowledging a (10) ____________ by the United Nations and in consideration of the situation of our people, resistance factions agreed to a 72-hour humanitarian and (11) ____________ calm…as long as the other side (12) ____________ by it." He added: "All the Palestinian factions are united behind the (13) ____________." The day before the ceasefire was announced, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country would continue to destroy the (14) ____________ that have been dug under the Gaza-Israel (15) ____________. John Kerry called the ceasefire "(16) ____________ time". He said: "It is a moment for the different factions to be able to come together with the state of Israel."

border
issue
call
precious
abides
pause
tunnels
mutual

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)	The state of Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas started a ______
	a. 72-hour cease in fire b. 72-hour ceased fire c. 72-hour cease fires d. 72-hour ceasefire
2)	The humanitarian truce will give Palestinians time to restock ______
	a. on basics supplies b. on basic supplies c. on basically supplies d. on bay sick supplies
3)	repair power stations which have been put out of action ______
	a. during the fight in b. during the fire tin c. during the fighting d. during the fighting in
4)	talk about the possibility of a permanent truce between ______
	a. the two slides b. the two sites c. the two sides d. the two sights
5)	resolving the underlying differences that have caused ______
	a. unrest for decadence b. unrest for decades c. unrest for decays d. unrest for deck aids
6)	Hamas said it would abide by the ______
	a. pauses in fighting b. pause in fighting c. paused in fighting d. paws in fighting
7)	resistance factions agreed to a 72-hour humanitarian ______
	a. and mutually calm b. and mutual clam c. and mutually clam d. and mutual calm
8)	All the Palestinian factions are united ______
	a. beyond the issue b. beneath the issue c. behind the issue d. before the issue
9)	Netanyahu said his country would continue to ______
	a. destroys the tunnel b. destroy the tunnel c. destroys the tunnels d. destroy the tunnels
10)	John Kerry called the ceasefire ______
	a. "precious times" b. "precious time" c. "preciously times" d. "pressures time"

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The state of Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas (1) ___________________ ceasefire on Friday morning. The halt in hostilities was engineered by America's Secretary of State John Kerry and the U.N. Secretary-General Ban-ki Moon. The (2) ___________________ will give Palestinians (3) ___________________ basic supplies such as food and medicines. They also need to repair power stations which have been put out of action (4) ___________________ of the past three weeks. Israelis and Palestinians are also to meet in Cairo, Egypt to talk (5) ___________________ a permanent truce between the two sides. They will talk about resolving the underlying differences (6) ___________________ for decades.

Hamas said it would (7) ___________________ in fighting. Its spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said: "Acknowledging a call by the United Nations and in consideration of the (8) ___________________, resistance factions agreed to a 72-hour humanitarian (9) ___________________ …as long as the other side abides by it." He added: "All the Palestinian factions are united behind the issue." The day before the (10) ___________________, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country would continue to destroy the tunnels that (11) ___________________ the Gaza-Israel border. John Kerry called the ceasefire "precious time". He said: "It is a moment for the different factions (12) ___________________ together with the state of Israel."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.	When did the ceasefire begin?
2.	What will Palestinians restock on?
3.	What do Palestinians need to fix?
4.	Where will the two sides meet to talk about a permanent truce?
5.	For how long has there been unrest between the two sides?
6.	What did Hamas say it would abide by?
7.	What Palestinians agreed to the 72-hour calm?
8.	When did Mr Netanyahu say Israel would continue to destroy tunnels?
9.	Where are the tunnels?
10.	What did John Kerry call the ceasefire?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.	When did the ceasefire begin?	6.	What did Hamas say it would abide by?
	a) Friday afternoon b) it didn't c) Friday morning d) Friday evening		a) the rules b) the ceasefire c) the regulations d) the guidelines
2.	What will Palestinians restock on?	7.	What Palestinians agreed to the 72-hour calm?
	a) basic supplies b) fish and meat c) bandages and band aids d) fruit and vegetables		a) only the leaders b) the ones in Rafah c) the PLO d) resistance factions
3.	What do Palestinians need to fix?	8.	When did Mr Netanyahu say Israel would continue to destroy tunnels?
	a) police stations b) the Internet c) tunnels d) power stations		a) next week b) the day before the ceasefire c) he didn't say d) two weeks ago
4.	Where will the two sides meet to talk about a permanent truce?	9.	Where are the tunnels?
	a) New York b) Cairo c) Jerusalem d) London		a) under the Israel-Gaza border b) connecting Gaza and Egypt c) all along the coast d) Tel Aviv
5.	For how long has there been unrest between the two sides?	10.	What did John Kerry call the ceasefire?
	a) 3 weeks b) 3 days c) decades d) 18 years		a) a wasted opportunity b) invaluable c) a moment of history d) precious time

ROLE PLAY

Role A – Hamas

You think Hamas is the likeliest party to bring about peace. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their parties could not bring about peace. Also, tell the others which is the least helpful of these (and why): the Arab League, Benjamin Netanyahu or Israeli citizens.

Role B – The Arab League

You think the Arab League is the likeliest party to bring about peace. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their parties could not bring about peace. Also, tell the others which is the least helpful of these (and why): Hamas, Benjamin Netanyahu or Israeli citizens.

Role C – Benjamin Netanyahu

You think Benjamin Netanyahu is the likeliest party to bring about peace. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their parties could not bring about peace. Also, tell the others which is the least helpful of these (and why): the Arab League, Hamas or Israeli citizens.

Role D – Israeli citizens

You think Israeli citizens are the likeliest party to bring about peace. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their parties could not bring about peace. Also, tell the others which is the least helpful of these (and why): the Arab League, Benjamin Netanyahu or Hamas.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'cease' and 'fire'.

cease

fire

Share your findings with your partners.

Make questions using the words you found.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

morning
engineered
food
power
meet
caused

pause
situation
long
before
under
together

GAZA SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Gaza in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

GAZA DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)	What did you think when you read the headline?
b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word 'ceasefire'?
c)	Why do ceasefires rarely hold?
d)	What will it take for the two sides to stop fighting?
e)	What started the current hostilities?
f)	What are your greatest concerns regarding the current conflict?
g)	What are the two sides fighting for?
h)	What images stick in your mind most regarding this conflict?
i)	What differences in reporting have you noticed in the media?
j)	Will there ever be peace between the two sides?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)	Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
b)	What would you say to the leaders of Hamas?
c)	What would you say to the leaders of Israel?
d)	What happens during a humanitarian ceasefire?
e)	Do you think the average Israeli or Palestinian agrees with their leaders?
f)	Who is to blame for the current fighting?
g)	What makes you most angry about the situation?
h)	Can the USA do anything to help stop the fighting?
i)	Can other Arab nations do anything to help stop the fighting?
j)	What questions would you like to ask a Gazan and Israeli?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

The state of Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas started a 72-hour ceasefire on Friday morning. The (1) ____ in hostilities was (2) ____ by America's Secretary of State John Kerry and the U.N. Secretary-General Ban-ki Moon. The humanitarian truce will give Palestinians time to restock on (3) ____ supplies such as food and medicines. They also need to repair power stations which have been (4) ____ out of action during the fighting of the past three weeks. Israelis and Palestinians are also to meet in Cairo, Egypt to talk about the (5) ____ of a permanent truce between the two sides. They will talk about resolving the underlying differences that have caused (6) ____ for decades.

Hamas said it would abide by the (7) ____ in fighting. Its spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said: "Acknowledging a call by the United Nations and in consideration of the situation of our people, (8) ____ factions agreed to a 72-hour humanitarian and (9) ____ calm…as long as the other side abides by it." He added: "All the Palestinian factions are united (10) ____ the issue." The day before the ceasefire was announced, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country would continue to destroy the tunnels that have been (11) ____ under the Gaza-Israel border. John Kerry called the ceasefire "precious time". He said: "It is a (12) ____ for the different factions to be able to come together with the state of Israel."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.	(a)	hilt	(b)	holt	(c)	halt	(d)	held
2.	(a)	engineered	(b)	machined	(c)	lubricated	(d)	mechanised
3.	(a)	basic	(b)	basically	(c)	basics	(d)	base
4.	(a)	put	(b)	cut	(c)	gut	(d)	rut
5.	(a)	possible	(b)	possibility	(c)	impossibility	(d)	impossible
6.	(a)	relent	(b)	relentless	(c)	restless	(d)	unrest
7.	(a)	breather	(b)	intermission	(c)	pause	(d)	stopover
8.	(a)	resisted	(b)	resisting	(c)	resistant	(d)	resistance
9.	(a)	mutual	(b)	mature	(c)	muting	(d)	matter
10.	(a)	beyond	(b)	behind	(c)	beneath	(d)	before
11.	(a)	scraped	(b)	dug	(c)	scratched	(d)	cultivated
12.	(a)	monument	(b)	monumental	(c)	moment	(d)	momentous

SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	halt in ishltoteisi
2.	eeeenirdng by America's Secretary of State
3.	The ahaiuintnram truce
4.	restock on basic seuiplsp
5.	the possibility of a nptmreena truce
6.	talk about resolving the rdenlyngiu differences
Paragraph 2
7.	Hamas said it would beida by the pause
8.	resistance atniscof
9.	mautul calm
10.	before the ceasefire was dnnnoauec
11.	continue to destroy the nsteunl
12.	urposice time

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	tunnels that have been dug under the Gaza-Israel border. John Kerry called the ceasefire "precious
( )	out of action during the fighting of the past three weeks. Israelis and Palestinians are
( )	Hamas said it would abide by the pause in fighting. Its spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said: "Acknowledging
( )	morning. The halt in hostilities was engineered by America's Secretary of State John Kerry and the U.N.
( )	announced, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country would continue to destroy the
( )	time". He said: "It is a moment for the different factions to be able to come together with the state of Israel."
( )	on basic supplies such as food and medicines. They also need to repair power stations which have been put
( )	to a 72-hour humanitarian and mutual calm…as long as the other side abides by it." He added:
( )	"All the Palestinian factions are united behind the issue." The day before the ceasefire was
( 1 )	The state of Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas started a 72-hour ceasefire on Friday
( )	also to meet in Cairo, Egypt to talk about the possibility of a permanent truce between the two sides. They will talk
( )	a call by the United Nations and in consideration of the situation of our people, resistance factions agreed
( )	Secretary-General Ban-ki Moon. The humanitarian truce will give Palestinians time to restock
( )	about resolving the underlying differences that have caused unrest for decades.

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.	on 72 ceasefire morning a hour Friday Started -.
2.	on Palestinians basic time supplies to restock Give.
3.	during action of out Put fighting the.
4.	truce possibility of Talk a about permanent the.
5.	caused have that Differences decades for unrest.
6.	in fighting Hamas said it would abide by the pause.
7.	humanitarian and mutual calm Agreed to a 72 - hour.
8.	factions behind Palestinian united issue the are the All.
9.	country the would tunnels continue to His destroy.
10.	of Israel . Be able to come together with the state

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The state / statehood of Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas started a 72-hour ceasefire on Friday morning. The hilt / halt in hostilities was engineered / engineering by America's Secretary of State John Kerry and the U.N. Secretary-General Ban-ki Moon. The humanitarian truce / trace will give Palestinians time to restock on basically / basic supplies such as food and medicines. They also need to repair powered / power stations which have been put out of / for action during the fighting of the past three weeks. Israelis and Palestinians are addition / also to meet in Cairo, Egypt to talk about the possibility of a permanent truce between the two sidings / sides. They will talk about resolving the underlying differences that have caused unrest / rest for decades.

Hamas said it would abide by the pause / paused in fighting. Its spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said: "Acknowledging a call for / by the United Nations and in consideration for / of the situation of our people, resistance / resistant factions agreed / agrees to a 72-hour humanitarian and mutual calm…as long as the other side abides by it." He added: "All the Palestinian factions are united beyond / behind the issue." The day prior / before the ceasefire was announced, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country would continue to destruct / destroy the tunnels that have been dug under the Gaza-Israel border. John Kerry called the ceasefire "precious / precocious time". He said: "It is a moment for the different frictions / factions to be able to come together with the state of Israel."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

Th_ st_t_ _f _sr__l _nd th_ P_l_st_n__n gr__p H_m_s st_rt_d _ 72-h__r c__s_f_r_ _n Fr_d_y m_rn_ng. Th_ h_lt _n h_st_l_t__s w_s _ng_n__r_d by _m_r_c_'s S_cr_t_ry _f St_t_ J_hn K_rry _nd th_ _.N. S_cr_t_ry-G_n_r_l B_n-k_ M__n. Th_ h_m_n_t_r__n tr_c_ w_ll g_v_ P_l_st_n__ns t_m_ t_ r_st_ck _n b_s_c s_ppl__s s_ch _s f__d _nd m_d_c_n_s. Th_y _ls_ n__d t_ r_p__r p_w_r st_t__ns wh_ch h_v_ b__n p_t __t _f _ct__n d_r_ng th_ f_ght_ng _f th_ p_st thr__ w__ks. _sr__l_s _nd P_l_st_n__ns _r_ _ls_ t_ m__t _n C__r_, _gypt t_ t_lk _b__t th_ p_ss_b_l_ty _f _ p_rm_n_nt tr_c_ b_tw__n th_ tw_ s_d_s. Th_y w_ll t_lk _b__t r_s_lv_ng th_ _nd_rly_ng d_ff_r_nc_s th_t h_v_ c__s_d _nr_st f_r d_c_d_s.

H_m_s s__d _t w__ld _b_d_ by th_ p__s_ _n f_ght_ng. _ts sp_k_sm_n S_m_ _b_ Z_hr_ s__d: "_ckn_wl_dg_ng _ c_ll by th_ _n_t_d N_t__ns _nd _n c_ns_d_r_t__n _f th_ s_t__t__n _f __r p__pl_, r_s_st_nc_ f_ct__ns _gr__d t_ _ 72-h__r h_m_n_t_r__n _nd m_t__l c_lm…_s l_ng _s th_ _th_r s_d_ _b_d_s by _t." H_ _dd_d: "_ll th_ P_l_st_n__n f_ct__ns _r_ _n_t_d b_h_nd th_ _ss__." Th_ d_y b_f_r_ th_ c__s_f_r_ w_s _nn__nc_d, _sr__l_ Pr_m_ M_n_st_r B_nj_m_n N_t_ny_h_ s__d h_s c__ntry w__ld c_nt_n__ t_ d_str_y th_ t_nn_ls th_t h_v_ b__n d_g _nd_r th_ G_z_-_sr__l b_rd_r. J_hn K_rry c_ll_d th_ c__s_f_r_ "pr_c___s t_m_". H_ s__d: "_t _s _ m_m_nt f_r th_ d_ff_r_nt f_ct__ns t_ b_ _bl_ t_ c_m_ t_g_th_r w_th th_ st_t_ _f _sr__l."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the state of israel and the palestinian group hamas started a 72-hour ceasefire on friday morning the halt in hostilities was engineered by america's secretary of state john kerry and the un secretary-general ban-ki moon the humanitarian truce will give palestinians time to restock on basic supplies such as food and medicines they also need to repair power stations which have been put out of action during the fighting of the past three weeks israelis and palestinians are also to meet in cairo egypt to talk about the possibility of a permanent truce between the two sides they will talk about resolving the underlying differences that have caused unrest for decades

hamas said it would abide by the pause in fighting its spokesman sami abu zuhri said "acknowledging a call by the united nations and in consideration of the situation of our people resistance factions agreed to a 72-hour humanitarian and mutual calm…as long as the other side abides by it" he added "all the palestinian factions are united behind the issue" the day before the ceasefire was announced israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu said his country would continue to destroy the tunnels that have been dug under the gaza-israel border john kerry called the ceasefire "precious time" he said "it is a moment for the different factions to be able to come together with the state of israel"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

ThestateofIsraelandthePalestiniangroupHamasstarteda72-hource
asefireonFridaymorning.ThehaltinhostilitieswasengineeredbyAmerica'sSec
retaryofStateJohnKerryandtheU.N.Secretary-GeneralBan-kiMoon.Th
ehumanitariantrucewillgivePalestinianstimetorestockonbasicsuppliessucha
sfoodandmedicines.Theyalsoneedtorepairpowerstationswhichhavebeenput
outofactionduringthefightingofthepastthreeweeks.IsraelisandPalestiniansa
realsotomeetinCairo,Egypttotalkaboutthepossibilityofapermanenttrucebet
weenthetwosides.Theywilltalkaboutresolvingtheunderlyingdifferencesthat
havecausedunrestfordecades.Hamassaiditwouldabidebythepauseinfightin
g.ItsspokesmanSamiAbuZuhrisaid:"AcknowledgingacallbytheUnitedNation
sandinconsiderationofthesituationofourpeople,resistancefactionsagreedto
a72-hourhumanitarianandmutualcalm…aslongastheothersideabidesb
yit."Headded:"AllthePalestinianfactionsareunitedbehindtheissue."Thedayb
eforetheceasefirewasannounced,IsraeliPrimeMinisterBenjaminNetanyahus
aidhiscountrywouldcontinuetodestroythetunnelsthathavebeendugunderth
eGaza-Israelborder.JohnKerrycalledtheceasefire"precioustime".Hesai
d:"Itisamomentforthedifferentfactionstobeabletocometogetherwiththestat
eofIsrael."

FREE WRITING

Write about Gaza for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

ACADEMIC WRITING

Discuss three of the biggest problems in Gaza and how we can overcome them.

_____________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about Gaza. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. GAZA: Make a poster about Gaza and its history. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. PEACE: Write a magazine article about how to bring peace between Palestinians and Israelis. Include imaginary interviews with people from both sides.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on the Middle East. Ask him/her three questions about Gaza. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to stop the fighting. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

T

b

F

c

T

d

F

e

F

f

T

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.	state	a.	nation
2.	hostilities	b.	fighting
3.	basic	c.	key
4.	permanent	d.	lasting
5.	resolving	e.	settling
6.	pause	f.	cessation
7.	call	g.	request
8.	factions	h.	groups
9.	destroy	i.	demolish
10.	moment	j.	little while

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.	Friday morning
2.	Basic supplies (food and medicines)
3.	Power stations
4.	Cairo, Egypt
5.	Decades
6.	The ceasefire
7.	Resistance factions
8.	The day before the ceasefire
9.	Under the Gaza-Israel border
10.	"Precious time"

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

c

2.

a

3.

d

4.

b

5.

c

6.

d

7.

b

8.

d

9.

a

10.

d

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Israel and Hamas declare 72-hour truce (3rd August, 2014)

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