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| Israel 'to announce Gaza truce' | Israel 'to announce Gaza truce' |
| (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. |
| In an initial reaction, a Hamas spokesman said the group would fight until its demands were met. | |
| "We will not accept less than stopping the aggression, ending the occupation and lifting the siege and opening all the crossings," said Fawzi Barhoum, in a statement broadcast by Hamas television. | "We will not accept less than stopping the aggression, ending the occupation and lifting the siege and opening all the crossings," said Fawzi Barhoum, in a statement broadcast by Hamas television. |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the Israeli ceasefire had to be accompanied by the withdrawal of its troops from Gaza. | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the Israeli ceasefire had to be accompanied by the withdrawal of its troops from Gaza. |
| Ahead of the move violence continued in the territory, with 50 Israeli air strikes overnight. Rocket fire from Hamas militants also continued. | Ahead of the move violence continued in the territory, with 50 Israeli air strikes overnight. Rocket fire from Hamas militants also continued. |
| Nearly 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. | Nearly 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. | 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. GAZA LATEST Bowen diary: Is this the end?BBC reporter reaches RafahIn pictures: Gaza conflictVoices from Gaza City | |
| In a televised address set for 2200 (2000 GMT), 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. | In a televised address set for 2200 (2000 GMT), 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 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. | 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. | The sources stressed that this was a unilateral action by Israel. |
| It follows pledges from the US and several European Union nations to help prevent arms smuggling into Gaza - one of Israel's key demands. | It follows pledges from the US and several European Union nations to help prevent arms smuggling into Gaza - one of Israel's key demands. |
| How Hamas responds remains to be seen. Its representatives have been attending talks hosted by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo. class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYIf Hamas is not involved then the cease fire is agreed with whom?Khizar Mohammed, Mumbai, India class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5924&edition=2&ttl=20090117191457">Send us your comments | |
| Hamas insists that any ceasefire must involve Israeli troops withdrawing from Gaza and an immediate lifting of the Israeli blockade. | |
| The BBC's Lyse Doucet, in Tel Aviv, said the truce was an attempt by Israel to seize the moral high ground - but also underlined the failure of the so-called Egyptian initiative to come up with terms for a ceasefire. | The BBC's Lyse Doucet, in Tel Aviv, said the truce was an attempt by Israel to seize the moral high ground - but also underlined the failure of the so-called Egyptian initiative to come up with terms for a ceasefire. |
| UN strike | UN strike |
| The announcement came on the 22nd day of violence in Gaza. | 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. GAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND In depth: Gaza conflictQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps | 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. GAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND In depth: Gaza conflictQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps |
| Chris Gunness, a spokesman for the UN Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa), said: "There has to be an investigation to determine whether a war crime has been committed." | Chris Gunness, a spokesman for the UN Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa), said: "There has to be an investigation to determine whether a war crime has been committed." |
| An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman, Yigal Palmor, told the BBC that Israel was waiting for more information on what happened. | 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. | The Israel military said Hamas fired seven rockets into Israel on Saturday; there were no casualties. |