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Israel and Gaza militants 'agree' truce after clashes Israel and Gaza militants agree truce after clashes
(about 6 hours later)
A ceasefire has been agreed between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza after four days of deadly clashes, an Egyptian official says. A ceasefire is in place between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza after four days of deadly clashes.
The official was quoted as saying that the Egyptian-mediated truce took effect at 01:00 local time (23:00 GMT Monday). The Egyptian-mediated truce took effect at 01:00 local time (23:00 GMT Monday), and there have been no new attacks.
A Hamas official later confirmed to the BBC that the truce had been agreed. The recent violence "appears to be behind us," said Israeli Cabinet Minister Matan Vilnai.
At least 25 Palestinians have died in Israeli air strikes since Friday, reports say. Israel says 35 people were injured in Palestinian rocket attacks.At least 25 Palestinians have died in Israeli air strikes since Friday, reports say. Israel says 35 people were injured in Palestinian rocket attacks.
The Egyptian official - who spoke on condition of anonymity - was quoted by Reuters as saying late on Monday that both Israel and Gaza militants had "agreed to end the current operations". Officials from Hamas, which runs Gaza, told the BBC that Israel had agreed to stop targeting leaders of militant groups in Gaza, if rocket attacks on its southern cities ceased.
Shortly afterwards, the Hamas official confirmed the truce. The deal was brokered by the Egyptian authorities, who reportedly negotiated with each side separately.
The official told the BBC that Israel had made an unusual promise to stop targeting militant leaders in Gaza, if rocket attacks on Israel ceased. Four days of cross-border violence was triggered by an Israeli air strike on Friday that killed a senior leader of the militant group, the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), who Israel said had been planning an attack.
Israel has not publicly commented on the reported ceasefire.
The cross-border violence was triggered by an Israeli air strike on Friday that killed a senior leader of the militant group, the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), who Israel said had been planning an attack.
Militants in Gaza responded quickly by unleashing a barrage of rockets towards southern Israel, triggering further air strikes.Militants in Gaza responded quickly by unleashing a barrage of rockets towards southern Israel, triggering further air strikes.
Most of those killed in Gaza were militants, but several civilians also died, Palestinian medical sources say.Most of those killed in Gaza were militants, but several civilians also died, Palestinian medical sources say.
Israel said the major reason for a relatively low number of injuries among its population was the country's new Iron Dome missile system, which shot down about 50 rockets launched from Gaza.
The US has condemned the rocket attacks as "cowardly"; the Arab League called the Israeli air strikes "a massacre".The US has condemned the rocket attacks as "cowardly"; the Arab League called the Israeli air strikes "a massacre".
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed grave concern over the flare-up in violence, describing rocket attacks on Israeli civilians as "unacceptable" and urging Israel to "exercise maximum restraint".UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed grave concern over the flare-up in violence, describing rocket attacks on Israeli civilians as "unacceptable" and urging Israel to "exercise maximum restraint".
Islamic Jihad and the PRC - and not Hamas - have said they have been behind the rocket attacks.Islamic Jihad and the PRC - and not Hamas - have said they have been behind the rocket attacks.
The increase in violence has alarmed world powers trying to bring peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis back on track.The increase in violence has alarmed world powers trying to bring peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis back on track.