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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Israel and Hamas 'negotiate unofficial truce' in Gaza | Israel and Hamas 'negotiate unofficial truce' in Gaza |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant movement controlling Gaza, are said to have reached an unofficial ceasefire after days of deadly attacks. | Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant movement controlling Gaza, are said to have reached an unofficial ceasefire after days of deadly attacks. |
| The truce was negotiated with the help of Egypt and appears to be holding, with no reports of fire overnight. | |
| Five people have been injured in Israel since Monday in one of the heaviest barrages of rocket-fire for months. | |
| Israeli air strikes on targets in the Gaza Strip in that period have killed at least six militants. | |
| Schools were closed on both sides of the border for fear of more attacks. | Schools were closed on both sides of the border for fear of more attacks. |
| Hamas sources said the movement did not want the fighting to continue with families in Gaza busy preparing for this weekend's Eid Muslim holiday. | Hamas sources said the movement did not want the fighting to continue with families in Gaza busy preparing for this weekend's Eid Muslim holiday. |
| Earlier this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to continue "targeted attacks" on militants launching rockets into Israel. | Earlier this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to continue "targeted attacks" on militants launching rockets into Israel. |
| "We didn't ask for this escalation and didn't initiate it," he said. "But if it continues, we are prepared to embark on a far more extensive and penetrating operation." | "We didn't ask for this escalation and didn't initiate it," he said. "But if it continues, we are prepared to embark on a far more extensive and penetrating operation." |
| 'Holy missions' | 'Holy missions' |
| On Wednesday, more than 70 rockets were launched into southern Israel, injuring five people, two critically, according to the Israeli military. | On Wednesday, more than 70 rockets were launched into southern Israel, injuring five people, two critically, according to the Israeli military. |
| In response, Israeli aircraft and tanks targeted rocket-launching sites in northern Gaza. | In response, Israeli aircraft and tanks targeted rocket-launching sites in northern Gaza. |
| Hamas's military wing, the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades, confirmed it had been involved in firing dozens of rockets and mortars into Israel. | Hamas's military wing, the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades, confirmed it had been involved in firing dozens of rockets and mortars into Israel. |
| In a statement, the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades and a smaller Gaza-based militant group, the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), said: "These holy missions come in response to the repeated, continuous crimes of the enemy against our people." | In a statement, the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades and a smaller Gaza-based militant group, the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), said: "These holy missions come in response to the repeated, continuous crimes of the enemy against our people." |
| The violence comes as the EU's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, visits the region to try to revive the stalled Middle East peace process. | The violence comes as the EU's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, visits the region to try to revive the stalled Middle East peace process. |
| She was scheduled to meet Israeli President Shimon Peres and Mr Netanyahu. Her talks with Defence Minister Ehud Barak were cancelled on Wednesday so he could tour the border with Gaza. | She was scheduled to meet Israeli President Shimon Peres and Mr Netanyahu. Her talks with Defence Minister Ehud Barak were cancelled on Wednesday so he could tour the border with Gaza. |
| On Thursday, Baroness Ashton will meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad. | On Thursday, Baroness Ashton will meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad. |
| "This is a critical time for the wider Middle East," she said. | "This is a critical time for the wider Middle East," she said. |
| Hamas, which governs Gaza, is not even part of the peace process, which has seen little US engagement since direct negotiations collapsed two years ago, reports our correspondent. | Hamas, which governs Gaza, is not even part of the peace process, which has seen little US engagement since direct negotiations collapsed two years ago, reports our correspondent. |