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Israel and Hamas 'negotiate unofficial truce' in Gaza Truce 'brings calm' after Gaza-Israel fighting
(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. Fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza appears to have calmed after an unofficial truce was reached following days of violence.
The truce was negotiated with the help of Egypt and appears to be holding, with no reports of fire overnight. Israel said a mortar shell landed in the south of the country on Thursday after no reports of exchanges fighting.
Five people have been injured in Israel since Monday in one of the heaviest barrages of rocket-fire for months. Five Israelis have been wounded since Tuesday amid some of the heaviest barrage of rocket and mortar fire from Gaza in months.
Israeli air strikes on targets in the Gaza Strip in that period have killed at least six militants. Six Palestinian militants were killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza.
Schools were closed on both sides of the border for fear of more attacks. On both sides of the border, there will be relief. In Gaza, it is the first day of the holiday weekend to mark the Muslim festival of Eid. Palestinians families are busy preparing, and Hamas sources say the movement did not want the fighting to continue at such a time.
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. In parts of southern Israel, schools will reopen after being closed on Wednesday because of the violence. These escalations happen every few months and have a depressingly predictable and even choreographed feel to them.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to continue "targeted attacks" on militants launching rockets into Israel. There are theories on both sides as to why the other might want a limited escalation. Some believe Hamas wants to reassert its resistance credentials in the face of criticism from more extremist groups in Gaza. Many Palestinians believe Israel provoked the violence deliberately ahead of upcoming Israeli elections in January.
"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." But it is thought neither Israel nor Hamas want another Gaza war at this time. Israel has other concerns in the region, notably Iran, and Hamas is keen to consolidate its power and strengthen Gaza's economy.
If previous ceasefires are anything to go by, there may well be breaches by both sides before calm is fully restored. Hamas will have to stop other armed groups in Gaza from launching attacks. And the underlying conflict between Palestinian militants and Israel remains. Any truce is unlikely to be permanent.
Schools were closed on both sides of the border for fear of more attacks, though reopened in Israel on Thursday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to strike hard at the militants if attacks continued.
"We didn't ask for this escalation and didn't initiate it," he said on Wednesday. "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 four 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 during a visit to the region by the EU's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, 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 is due to meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad on Thursday, a day after holding talks with Israeli leaders.
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.
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.