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| Hamas announces ceasefire in Gaza | Hamas announces ceasefire in Gaza |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Palestinian militant group Hamas has announced an immediate ceasefire with Israel in Gaza. | The Palestinian militant group Hamas has announced an immediate ceasefire with Israel in Gaza. |
| A statement read by a Hamas spokesman said the group would hold fire for a week to give Israel time to withdraw its forces from the Gaza Strip. | A statement read by a Hamas spokesman said the group would hold fire for a week to give Israel time to withdraw its forces from the Gaza Strip. |
| The move came hours after a unilateral Israeli ceasefire came into effect. | The move came hours after a unilateral Israeli ceasefire came into effect. |
| The cessation of hostilities was earlier cast into doubt by fresh rocket fire into Israel and an Israeli air strike on militants in Gaza. | The cessation of hostilities was earlier cast into doubt by fresh rocket fire into Israel and an Israeli air strike on militants in Gaza. |
| High alert | High alert |
| Hamas' deputy chief in Syria, Moussa Abou Marzouk, said the ceasefire was in the name of all "Palestinian resistance factions". | Hamas' deputy chief in Syria, Moussa Abou Marzouk, said the ceasefire was in the name of all "Palestinian resistance factions". |
| "We... announce a ceasefire of our factions in the Gaza Strip and we stress that our demand is the withdrawal of the enemy forces from the Gaza Strip within a week, along with the opening of all the crossings for the entry of humanitarian aid, food and other necessities for our people in the Gaza Strip." | "We... announce a ceasefire of our factions in the Gaza Strip and we stress that our demand is the withdrawal of the enemy forces from the Gaza Strip within a week, along with the opening of all the crossings for the entry of humanitarian aid, food and other necessities for our people in the Gaza Strip." |
| Israelis and Palestinians give their views on Israel's ceasefire announcementIn pictures | Israelis and Palestinians give their views on Israel's ceasefire announcementIn pictures |
| The group said the ceasefire would be temporary unless Israel met these long-standing demands. | The group said the ceasefire would be temporary unless Israel met these long-standing demands. |
| An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman, Yigal Palmor, did not comment directly on the Hamas demands. | An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman, Yigal Palmor, did not comment directly on the Hamas demands. |
| But he told the BBC that troops would be withdrawn from the Gaza Strip "in good time" if there was "a total halt to attacks by Hamas". | But he told the BBC that troops would be withdrawn from the Gaza Strip "in good time" if there was "a total halt to attacks by Hamas". |
| The BBC's Bethany Bell, on the Israeli side of the border with Gaza, says Israeli helicopters and drones have been flying overhead and Israeli troops are on high alert. | The BBC's Bethany Bell, on the Israeli side of the border with Gaza, says Israeli helicopters and drones have been flying overhead and Israeli troops are on high alert. |
| Many people are hoping that a ceasefire will last, but no-one on either side of the border will be surprised if the fighting starts up again, our correspondent adds. | Many people are hoping that a ceasefire will last, but no-one on either side of the border will be surprised if the fighting starts up again, our correspondent adds. |
| Rocket fire | Rocket fire |
| Hamas's leader in exile, Khaled Meshaal, will make an "important" announcement in Syria on Sunday afternoon regarding Israel's ceasefire, the Associated Press news agency reported. | Hamas's leader in exile, Khaled Meshaal, will make an "important" announcement in Syria on Sunday afternoon regarding Israel's ceasefire, the Associated Press news agency reported. |
| Israel, whose ceasefire came into effect at 0200 (2400 GMT) has said its troops will stay in Gaza for as long as necessary. | Israel, whose ceasefire came into effect at 0200 (2400 GMT) has said its troops will stay in Gaza for as long as necessary. |
| Hours later, at least 18 rockets were fired into Israel, Israeli sources said, triggering an Israeli air strike in response. | Hours later, at least 18 rockets were fired into Israel, Israeli sources said, triggering an Israeli air strike in response. |
| GAZA LATEST Excerpts: Olmert declares ceasefireHamas ceasefire statementCeasefire may not end warSurvivors count losses in Rafah | GAZA LATEST Excerpts: Olmert declares ceasefireHamas ceasefire statementCeasefire may not end warSurvivors count losses in Rafah |
| One rocket hit a house in Ashdod, injuring lightly two people, police said. | One rocket hit a house in Ashdod, injuring lightly two people, police said. |
| The stopping of rocket fire had been a chief aim of the military campaign. | The stopping of rocket fire had been a chief aim of the military campaign. |
| Israeli troops killed a Palestinian near the southern Gazan town of Khan Younis on Sunday morning, reports from Gaza said. If confirmed, the death would be the first fatality since the ceasefire began. | Israeli troops killed a Palestinian near the southern Gazan town of Khan Younis on Sunday morning, reports from Gaza said. If confirmed, the death would be the first fatality since the ceasefire began. |
| At least 1,300 Palestinians, according to Palestinian sources, and 13 Israelis have been killed since Israel launched its offensive on 27 December. | At least 1,300 Palestinians, according to Palestinian sources, and 13 Israelis have been killed since Israel launched its offensive on 27 December. |
| Palestinian medics say at least 50 bodies have been pulled from the rubble since Israel halted its offensive. | Palestinian medics say at least 50 bodies have been pulled from the rubble since Israel halted its offensive. |
| 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 |
| Meanwhile, heads of state from across Europe travelled to Egypt for a summit with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas and UN chief Ban Ki-moon to try to shore up the ceasefire. | |
| They discussed how to make the ceasefire durable and respected by Hamas, how to get aid to Gaza and beginning the process of rebuilding there. | |
| Speaking after the talks, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he would be sending a team to assess the immediate humanitarian needs of the people in Gaza. | |
| "Within 10 days, I think we'll be able to make an assessment report and we will issue a humanitarian urgent, a humanitarian flash appeal." |