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/7462554.stm

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Israel and Hamas ceasefire begins Israel and Hamas ceasefire begins
(about 4 hours later)
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has begun, despite a last minute flurry of cross-border attacks. A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has begun, despite a last-minute flurry of cross-border attacks.
Under the terms of the truce, Israel will ease its blockade on Gaza and talks to release an Israeli soldier held by Hamas are expected to resume. The truce is designed to halt Israeli incursions into the Gaza Strip, and to stop missiles being fired from Gaza into southern Israel.
Israeli PM, Ehud Olmert, has warned that the truce, which started at 0600 (0300 GMT), will be fragile. If it holds, Israel will ease its blockade on Gaza and there may be further talks on a prisoner exchange.
At least 40 rockets and mortars were fired from Gaza at Israel on Wednesday and Israel carried out air strikes. Correspondents say the eve-of-truce attacks underline how fragile the agreement could be.
Another militant group, Islamic Jihad, who lost several members to Israeli air strikes in recent days, claimed responsibility for some of the attacks. There were no reports of fire from either side on Thursday morning.
Key questions Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group which controls Gaza, said it was confident all militants would abide by the Egypt-brokered truce, which is supposed to last six months.
Just an hour before the truce came into effect, an Israeli missile strike killed one Palestinian gunman and wounded another three near Gaza's border fence. Since the last ceasefire collapsed in April 2007, 18 Israelis and about 600 Palestinians have been killed in fighting between the two sides.
The key questions, says the BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Gaza, are:
  • Will Hamas be able to keep control over all of the disparate militant groups that fire rocket over the border?
  • Will those groups be able to show restraint should there be any Palestinian deaths in the West Bank - where this ceasefire does not apply?
A senior Islamic Jihad leader has told the BBC his group would not violate the ceasefire.
"We will respect the truce but if the Israeli side violates the truce at any time Islamic Jihad resolves the right to respond at any time," said Khaled Batsh.
But he added that if an Islamic Jihad militant was killed in the West Bank the group would respond. That, our correspondent suggests, would entail rocket fire from Gaza.
Hamas isolatedHamas isolated
Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which controls Gaza, said it was confident all militants would abide by the Egypt-brokered truce, which is supposed to last six months. Speaking on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the truce would be fragile and could be short-lived.
GAZA TRUCE TIMETABLE class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7461370.stm">Timely Gaza truce to test parties class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/7461614.stm">Your views: Israelis and Gazans class="" 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 He said Israel would abide by the ceasefire, but its armed forces were ready to act if cross-border rocket attacks continued.
Correspondents said the eve-of-truce cross-border attacks underlined how fragile the agreement could be. GAZA TRUCE TIMETABLE 0600 (0300 GMT) Thursday ceasefire beginsAfter 24 hours, Israel begins to ease crossing restrictionsAfter five days, Israel opens up crossings After two weeks, talks to begin on reopening the Rafah crossing into Egypt class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7461370.stm">Timely Gaza truce to test parties class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/7461614.stm">Your views: Israelis and Gazans class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4968&edition=1">Send us your comments "We should not have illusions. The terror organisations, and Hamas among them, have not changed their goals," he said.
The most recent Gaza ceasefire, in November 2006, quickly unravelled. Hamas's leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniya, said the truce would "bring stability to Israel if they commit themselves to it".
Israelis in the south of the country will appreciate the relief from daily missile fire, says the BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem, but many fear that a ceasefire could give Hamas the chance to rearm and strengthen itself further.
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. Israel then tightened its blockade on Gaza, allowing through only humanitarian supplies.
Mr Olmert has said the truce will be fragile and could be short-lived. He said Israel would abide by the ceasefire but its armed forces were ready to act if cross-border rocket attacks continued. Under the terms of the new agreement, Israel will ease restrictions on the trade of certain goods between Gaza and Israel on Friday morning, and open up the crossings for all commercial goods next week.
"We should not have illusions. The terror organisations, and Hamas among them, have not changed their goals."
The Hamas leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniya, said: "The calm is going to bring stability to Israel if they commit themselves to it."
According to a breakdown of the truce released by Hamas, Israel will ease restrictions on the trade of certain goods between Gaza and Israel on Friday morning, and open up the crossings for all commercial goods next week.
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.
And negotiations on the return of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, captured by militants in Gaza in June 2006, are supposed to resume within a few days, say Israeli security sources. And negotiations on the return of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, captured by militants in Gaza in June 2006, are supposed to resume within a few days, Israeli sources say.
Key questions
On Wednesday, before the truce came into effect, at least 40 rockets and mortars were fired from Gaza at Israel, and the Israeli army killed a Palestinian militant in an air strike.
The Islamic Jihad militant group, which lost several members to Israeli air strikes in recent days, claimed responsibility for some of the attacks.
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Gaza says the key questions when considering whether the truce will hold are:
  • Will Hamas be able to keep control over all of the disparate militant groups that fire rockets over the border?
  • Will those groups be able to show restraint should there be any Palestinian deaths in the West Bank, where this ceasefire does not apply?
A senior Islamic Jihad leader has told the BBC his group would not violate the ceasefire, but it "resolves the right to respond at any time" to any Israeli attack in Gaza or the West Bank.