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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Israel 'to announce ceasefire' | Israel 'to announce ceasefire' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Israeli cabinet is set to back an end to offensive military activities in the Gaza Strip, three weeks after attacks began, the BBC understands. | The Israeli cabinet is set to back an end to offensive military activities in the Gaza Strip, three weeks after attacks began, the BBC understands. |
| Israel's leaders are expected to approve a ceasefire at a meeting later on Saturday, after which PM Ehud Olmert will address the nation, sources said. | Israel's leaders are expected to approve a ceasefire at a meeting later on Saturday, after which PM Ehud Olmert will address the nation, sources said. |
| The sources said the ceasefire deal did not involve Hamas. | The sources said the ceasefire deal did not involve Hamas. |
| It is not clear how Hamas will respond; its officials say the group will ignore any truce unless its demands are met. | It is not clear how Hamas will respond; its officials say the group will ignore any truce unless its demands are met. |
| Ahead of the move violence continued in Gaza, with 50 Israeli air strikes overnight. Rocket fire from Hamas militants also continued. | Ahead of the move violence continued in Gaza, with 50 Israeli air strikes overnight. Rocket fire from Hamas militants also continued. |
| About 1,200 Palestinians have been killed since the violence began on 27 December. Thirteen Israelis - three civilians and 10 soldiers - have been killed during the campaign. | About 1,200 Palestinians have been killed since the violence began on 27 December. Thirteen Israelis - three civilians and 10 soldiers - have been killed during the campaign. |
| 'H-Hour' | 'H-Hour' |
| The Israeli move comes amid intense diplomacy aimed at ending the conflict. | |
| Israeli sources told the BBC's Middle East editor, Jeremy Bowen, that Mr Olmert would announce an end to offensive military operations from "H-Hour", the exact timing of which is not yet clear. | Israeli sources told the BBC's Middle East editor, Jeremy Bowen, that Mr Olmert would announce an end to offensive military operations from "H-Hour", the exact timing of which is not yet clear. |
| Mr Olmert was expected to link the move to Israel having achieved its goal of curtailing rocket fire from Hamas-linked militants, the sources said. | Mr Olmert was expected to link the move to Israel having achieved its goal of curtailing rocket fire from Hamas-linked militants, the sources said. |
| If rocket fire continued after "H-Hour", Israel would respond, the sources said. If there was a single incident, Israel would hit back surgically. If there were more attacks Israel would go back on the offensive, they said. | |
| The sources stressed that this was a unilateral action by Israel. How Hamas responds remains to be seen. | The sources stressed that this was a unilateral action by Israel. How Hamas responds remains to be seen. |
| Hamas insists that any ceasefire must involve Israeli troops withdrawing from Gaza and an immediate lifting of the Israeli blockade. | Hamas insists that any ceasefire must involve Israeli troops withdrawing from Gaza and an immediate lifting of the Israeli blockade. |
| UN strike | |
| The announcement came on the 22nd day of violence in Gaza. | |
| United Nations officials said two children, aged five and seven, were killed when Israeli tank fire hit a UN school where hundreds had taken shelter in the northern town of Beit Lahiya. | |
| John Ging, the Unrwa chief in Gaza, told the BBC that there was "nowhere safe in Gaza". | |
| "I'm ashamed of this - there's international legal responsibility to protect civilians in conflict, and we're not doing it," Mr Ging said. | |
| An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman, Yigal Palmor, told the BBC that Israel was waiting for more information on what happened. | |
| The Israel military said Hamas fired seven rockets into Israel on Saturday; there were no casualties. |