This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7460504.stm
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Israel agrees to Gaza ceasefire | Israel agrees to Gaza ceasefire |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Israel has approved a ceasefire to end months of bitter clashes with the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza, Israeli officials have confirmed. | Israel has approved a ceasefire to end months of bitter clashes with the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza, Israeli officials have confirmed. |
| Under the terms of the truce, which is set to begin on Thursday, Israel will ease its blockade on the Gaza Strip. | Under the terms of the truce, which is set to begin on Thursday, Israel will ease its blockade on the Gaza Strip. |
| At the same time, talks to release an Israeli soldier held by Hamas would intensify, an Israeli official said. | At the same time, talks to release an Israeli soldier held by Hamas would intensify, an Israeli official said. |
| Later, Israel said it was also interested in direct, bilateral talks with Lebanon. | Later, Israel said it was also interested in direct, bilateral talks with Lebanon. |
| Rocket attacks | Rocket attacks |
| Hamas, which controls Gaza, says it is confident that all militants will abide by the truce agreement. | Hamas, which controls Gaza, says it is confident that all militants will abide by the truce agreement. |
| Hamas seized control of Gaza in June 2007, driving out forces loyal to Fatah, the political faction led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. | Hamas seized control of Gaza in June 2007, driving out forces loyal to Fatah, the political faction led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. |
| Since then, Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the international community have sought to isolate Hamas. | Since then, Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the international community have sought to isolate Hamas. |
| GAZA TRUCE TIMETABLE 0600 (0300 GMT) Thursday ceasefire beginsAfter 24 hours, Israel eases crossing restrictionsAfter five days, Israel opens commercial crossingsAfter two weeks, Egypt starts talks with all sides to seek re-opening of Rafah crossing What chance of lasting peace? href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7460781.stm">Press: Gaza truce is Hamas victory class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4968&edition=1">Send us your comments | |
| For Hamas, the ceasefire agreement is an acknowledgement that Israel's economic blockade of Gaza is hurting its administration and is having a huge detrimental impact on Gaza's population, says the BBC's Wyre Davies in Jerusalem. | For Hamas, the ceasefire agreement is an acknowledgement that Israel's economic blockade of Gaza is hurting its administration and is having a huge detrimental impact on Gaza's population, says the BBC's Wyre Davies in Jerusalem. |
| The decision to approve the ceasefire was made by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defence Minister Ehud Barak. It followed the return of a defence official from Cairo, where talks were held with Egyptian mediators. | |
| The truce is scheduled to begin at 0600 (0300 GMT) on Thursday, and should bring an end to rocket attacks from within Gaza and ease the humanitarian situation inside the Palestinian territory. | The truce is scheduled to begin at 0600 (0300 GMT) on Thursday, and should bring an end to rocket attacks from within Gaza and ease the humanitarian situation inside the Palestinian territory. |
| However, there are still many obstacles to long-term peace, with both sides warning that the truce will collapse if it is violated, our correspondent says. | However, there are still many obstacles to long-term peace, with both sides warning that the truce will collapse if it is violated, our correspondent says. |
| Israeli radio said that eight rockets had been fired from Gaza towards Israel on Wednesday. | Israeli radio said that eight rockets had been fired from Gaza towards Israel on Wednesday. |
| A spokesman for the Israeli government said it wanted the ceasefire to succeed. | A spokesman for the Israeli government said it wanted the ceasefire to succeed. |
| "Thursday will be the beginning, we hope, of a new reality where Israeli citizens in the south will no longer be on the receiving end of continuous rocket attacks," Mark Regev said. | "Thursday will be the beginning, we hope, of a new reality where Israeli citizens in the south will no longer be on the receiving end of continuous rocket attacks," Mark Regev said. |
| Mr Regev also said Israel was ready for talks with Lebanon, and it would consider "every issue of contention", including a dispute over the Shebaa Farms, currently occupied by Israel. | Mr Regev also said Israel was ready for talks with Lebanon, and it would consider "every issue of contention", including a dispute over the Shebaa Farms, currently occupied by Israel. |
| The issue is a key sticking point between Israel, Syria and Lebanon - the UN says the territory is part of Syria, but the Lebanese Islamist group Hezbollah says it is Lebanese territory. | The issue is a key sticking point between Israel, Syria and Lebanon - the UN says the territory is part of Syria, but the Lebanese Islamist group Hezbollah says it is Lebanese territory. |
| Separately, Israel and Syria have been holding indirect peace talks, mediated by Turkey. | |
| A breakthrough in those talks could bolster Mr Olmert at home, where he faces a corruption scandal that threatens to force him from office, correspondents say. | |
| Border crossings | Border crossings |
| According to a breakdown of the deal released by Hamas, Israel will ease its restrictions for the trade of certain goods between Gaza and Israel on Friday morning, followed by the opening up of the crossings for all commercial goods next week. | |
| The Israeli government said that it would give the truce a chance | The Israeli government said that it would give the truce a chance |
| After two weeks, talks will start involving Israel, Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and the EU on reopening the Rafah crossing into Egypt. | After two weeks, talks will start involving Israel, Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and the EU on reopening the Rafah crossing into Egypt. |
| An Israeli security source told Israel Radio that negotiations on the return of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit were expected to resume within a few days. | An Israeli security source told Israel Radio that negotiations on the return of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit were expected to resume within a few days. |
| He said that if progress was achieved, Israel would have to reach a decision regarding the release of Palestinian prisoners. | He said that if progress was achieved, Israel would have to reach a decision regarding the release of Palestinian prisoners. |
| As part of the deal, Egypt has also committed to stop the smuggling of arms and weapons from its territory into Gaza, Israeli officials said. | As part of the deal, Egypt has also committed to stop the smuggling of arms and weapons from its territory into Gaza, Israeli officials said. |