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Israel poised for ceasefire vote | Israel poised for ceasefire vote |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Israeli ministers are due to vote on a unilateral ceasefire proposal, amid signs of diplomatic movement on the three-week conflict in Gaza. | Israeli ministers are due to vote on a unilateral ceasefire proposal, amid signs of diplomatic movement on the three-week conflict in Gaza. |
Government spokesman Mark Regev said he thought Israel may have achieved enough to allow a ceasefire. | Government spokesman Mark Regev said he thought Israel may have achieved enough to allow a ceasefire. |
Israel and the US signed a deal to halt the smuggling of arms into Gaza as Cairo continued its mediation efforts. | Israel and the US signed a deal to halt the smuggling of arms into Gaza as Cairo continued its mediation efforts. |
Israeli warplanes bombed Gaza again just before dawn, with heavy explosions south of Gaza City. | Israeli warplanes bombed Gaza again just before dawn, with heavy explosions south of Gaza City. |
A spokesman for the UN relief agency UNRWA said two people were killed in an attack on or close to a UN school in northern Gaza. The Israeli army has not yet commented. | |
A BBC correspondent who managed to enter southern Gaza on Friday saw evidence of much collateral damage from recent bombing. | A BBC correspondent who managed to enter southern Gaza on Friday saw evidence of much collateral damage from recent bombing. |
Christian Fraser says the situation for Palestinian families there is tough, with food and electricity supplies limited and no running water. | Christian Fraser says the situation for Palestinian families there is tough, with food and electricity supplies limited and no running water. |
Movement towards a negotiated solution has been slow but there are signs that significant progress has been made during the past 24 hours, the BBC's Adam Mynott reports. | Movement towards a negotiated solution has been slow but there are signs that significant progress has been made during the past 24 hours, the BBC's Adam Mynott reports. |
Since Israel launched its offensive on 27 December to end rocket attacks against its people, nearly 1,170 people are thought to have been killed. | Since Israel launched its offensive on 27 December to end rocket attacks against its people, nearly 1,170 people are thought to have been killed. |
Hamas talks | Hamas talks |
The Israeli prime minister's office said that as a result of "significant progress" at talks between Israeli officials and Egypt's intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman, a draft unilateral ceasefire would be discussed by Mr Olmert and his Defence Minister, Ehud Barak. | The Israeli prime minister's office said that as a result of "significant progress" at talks between Israeli officials and Egypt's intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman, a draft unilateral ceasefire would be discussed by Mr Olmert and his Defence Minister, Ehud Barak. |
Despite all the destruction in Gaza, I assure you we will not accept Israel's conditions for a ceasefire Khaled Meshaal leading Hamas figure BBC reporter reaches RafahBowen diary: Truce hopesIn pictures: Ongoing Gaza assaultVoices from Gaza City | Despite all the destruction in Gaza, I assure you we will not accept Israel's conditions for a ceasefire Khaled Meshaal leading Hamas figure BBC reporter reaches RafahBowen diary: Truce hopesIn pictures: Ongoing Gaza assaultVoices from Gaza City |
"Following the discussion, the cabinet for national security will be convened on Saturday evening to decide whether it should be adopted," it added. | "Following the discussion, the cabinet for national security will be convened on Saturday evening to decide whether it should be adopted," it added. |
Earlier, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said in Washington that Israel would have to suspend any ceasefire if Hamas continued to fire rockets. | Earlier, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said in Washington that Israel would have to suspend any ceasefire if Hamas continued to fire rockets. |
Signing the deal on preventing arms-smuggling, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she hoped it would ensure Gaza could "never again be used as a launch pad" for attacks on Israel. | Signing the deal on preventing arms-smuggling, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she hoped it would ensure Gaza could "never again be used as a launch pad" for attacks on Israel. |
Mr Regev told BBC News that the foundations for announcing a ceasefire seemed to be in place. | Mr Regev told BBC News that the foundations for announcing a ceasefire seemed to be in place. |
"I think we're seeing the pieces of the puzzle fall into place and we see the foundations for what we see as a long-term calm in the south, based on cessation of fire and, of course, absence of all arms smuggling to Hamas," he said. | "I think we're seeing the pieces of the puzzle fall into place and we see the foundations for what we see as a long-term calm in the south, based on cessation of fire and, of course, absence of all arms smuggling to Hamas," he said. |
Hamas leaders have returned to Cairo for further talks. | Hamas leaders have returned to Cairo for further talks. |
They insist that a ceasefire agreement is built on the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza within a week and an immediate end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip. | They insist that a ceasefire agreement is built on the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza within a week and an immediate end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip. |
Ban Ki-Moon: 'The fighting must stop' | Ban Ki-Moon: 'The fighting must stop' |
One Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, has said the group will not accept Israeli conditions for a ceasefire. | One Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, has said the group will not accept Israeli conditions for a ceasefire. |
"Despite all the destruction in Gaza, I assure you we will not accept Israel's conditions for a ceasefire," he said in Doha, Qatar. | "Despite all the destruction in Gaza, I assure you we will not accept Israel's conditions for a ceasefire," he said in Doha, Qatar. |
Western diplomats say a pact underpinning any truce may be signed in Cairo this weekend between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. | Western diplomats say a pact underpinning any truce may be signed in Cairo this weekend between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. |
The UN General Assembly in New York has overwhelmingly passed a resolution calling for an immediate and durable ceasefire in Gaza, leading to a full withdrawal of Israeli troops. | The UN General Assembly in New York has overwhelmingly passed a resolution calling for an immediate and durable ceasefire in Gaza, leading to a full withdrawal of Israeli troops. |
Earlier, after meeting Palestinian Authority leaders in the West Bank, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on Israel to end the fighting immediately. | Earlier, after meeting Palestinian Authority leaders in the West Bank, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on Israel to end the fighting immediately. |
New air strikes | New air strikes |
Israeli military officials say 40 air strikes on Gaza on Thursday night targeted smuggling tunnels, rocket launching points, weapons stores and a militants' training camp. | Israeli military officials say 40 air strikes on Gaza on Thursday night targeted smuggling tunnels, rocket launching points, weapons stores and a militants' training camp. |
GAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND In depth: Gaza conflictQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps | GAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND In depth: Gaza conflictQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps |
The bodies of 23 people were later recovered in the Tel al-Hawa district of Gaza City, medics said. | The bodies of 23 people were later recovered in the Tel al-Hawa district of Gaza City, medics said. |
Militants fired about 10 rockets into Israel on Friday, causing no injuries, the Israeli army said. | Militants fired about 10 rockets into Israel on Friday, causing no injuries, the Israeli army said. |
Health officials in Hamas-controlled Gaza say at least 1,155 Palestinians have been killed and 5,015 wounded since Israel launched its offensive. | Health officials in Hamas-controlled Gaza say at least 1,155 Palestinians have been killed and 5,015 wounded since Israel launched its offensive. |
Thirteen Israelis - three of them civilians - have died, while 233 soldiers have been wounded, Israeli officials say. | Thirteen Israelis - three of them civilians - have died, while 233 soldiers have been wounded, Israeli officials say. |
A teenager reportedly died during anti-Israeli protests in the West Bank on Friday. | A teenager reportedly died during anti-Israeli protests in the West Bank on Friday. |