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| Gaza crisis: Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas 'imminent' | Gaza crisis: Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas 'imminent' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A ceasefire is set to be announced in the Gaza conflict, Egyptian and Palestinian officials say. | A ceasefire is set to be announced in the Gaza conflict, Egyptian and Palestinian officials say. |
| Egypt's President Mohammed Mursi, who has led mediation efforts, said he expected Israel to end air strikes late on Tuesday. A Hamas official also told the BBC a truce was imminent. | |
| Israel has not confirmed this, but has put plans for a land invasion on hold. | |
| However it has also told villagers in north, south and east of Gaza to move to central areas for their own safety. | |
| Leaflets dropped in a number of villages say: "The Israel Defense Forces are not targeting any of you and they do not want to harm you or your families. For your safety we demand you to evacuate your houses immediately and move towards the centre of Gaza city." | Leaflets dropped in a number of villages say: "The Israel Defense Forces are not targeting any of you and they do not want to harm you or your families. For your safety we demand you to evacuate your houses immediately and move towards the centre of Gaza city." |
| Israel launched its offensive, which it says is aimed at ending rocket fire from Gaza, with the killing on Wednesday of a Hamas military leader. More than 110 Palestinians and three Israelis have been killed since then. | Israel launched its offensive, which it says is aimed at ending rocket fire from Gaza, with the killing on Wednesday of a Hamas military leader. More than 110 Palestinians and three Israelis have been killed since then. |
| Tuesday has seen a reduced level of violence, correspondents say, even though Israel has conducted some strikes. One was a "direct hit" on two militants in northern Gaza, the Israeli military said. | Tuesday has seen a reduced level of violence, correspondents say, even though Israel has conducted some strikes. One was a "direct hit" on two militants in northern Gaza, the Israeli military said. |
| It also said about 150 rockets had been fired from Gaza towards Israel, and many had been intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system. Five soldiers were wounded in one rocket attack, the military said, without specifying the location. | |
| Local journalists say they saw Hamas fighters summarily execute six people on Tuesday afternoon for being Israeli informers. | Local journalists say they saw Hamas fighters summarily execute six people on Tuesday afternoon for being Israeli informers. |
| One eyewitness told AFP news agency: "Gunmen in a minibus pulled up in the neighbourhood, pushed six men out and shot them without leaving the vehicle." | One eyewitness told AFP news agency: "Gunmen in a minibus pulled up in the neighbourhood, pushed six men out and shot them without leaving the vehicle." |
| President Mursi said Israel's "aggression" against Gaza would end on Tuesday and Egypt's mediation efforts would produce "positive results" shortly, the official Mena news agency reported. | President Mursi said Israel's "aggression" against Gaza would end on Tuesday and Egypt's mediation efforts would produce "positive results" shortly, the official Mena news agency reported. |
| Later, Hamas spokesman Ayman Taha told the BBC he expected a ceasefire to be announced. | Later, Hamas spokesman Ayman Taha told the BBC he expected a ceasefire to be announced. |
| Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev told US network CNN that a ceasefire deal with Gaza militants had not been finalised and that the "ball is still in play". | |
| Earlier Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "If a long-term solution can be put in place by diplomatic means, Israel will be a willing partner." | |
| Regional risk | Regional risk |
| The content of the Egyptian plan is not known, but both Israel and Hamas have presented conditions. | The content of the Egyptian plan is not known, but both Israel and Hamas have presented conditions. |
| Israel's demands include no hostile fire of any kind from Gaza and international efforts to prevent Hamas from rearming, while Hamas is demanding an end to the blockade on Gaza and "Israel's assassinations". | Israel's demands include no hostile fire of any kind from Gaza and international efforts to prevent Hamas from rearming, while Hamas is demanding an end to the blockade on Gaza and "Israel's assassinations". |
| Israeli troops are massed along the border, raising fears of a ground offensive similar to that of 2008-09. An Israeli spokesman told the BBC: "Israel wants talks to succeed but we're prepared to go into Gaza." | Israeli troops are massed along the border, raising fears of a ground offensive similar to that of 2008-09. An Israeli spokesman told the BBC: "Israel wants talks to succeed but we're prepared to go into Gaza." |
| In a rare appearance, top Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif said: "The enemy should know that it will pay a heavy price for its heinous crimes against our people." He added that a ground invasion would "be the starting point for a new phase of the struggle of liberation". | In a rare appearance, top Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif said: "The enemy should know that it will pay a heavy price for its heinous crimes against our people." He added that a ground invasion would "be the starting point for a new phase of the struggle of liberation". |
| US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is due in Israel for crisis talks later on Tuesday. She will underline that "the best way to solve this is through diplomacy", said Mr Obama's Deputy National Security Adviser, Ben Rhodes. | US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is due in Israel for crisis talks later on Tuesday. She will underline that "the best way to solve this is through diplomacy", said Mr Obama's Deputy National Security Adviser, Ben Rhodes. |
| During the previous night, the Israeli military said it had carried out about 100 strikes, mainly on smuggling tunnels and underground rocket-launching facilities. Hamas officials say seven people were killed. | During the previous night, the Israeli military said it had carried out about 100 strikes, mainly on smuggling tunnels and underground rocket-launching facilities. Hamas officials say seven people were killed. |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met Arab League Chief Nabil al-Arabi in Cairo on Tuesday, before heading for Israel. | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met Arab League Chief Nabil al-Arabi in Cairo on Tuesday, before heading for Israel. |
| During a joint news conference with Mr Netanyahu, Mr Ban condemned Palestinian rocket attacks but urged Israel to show "maximum restraint." | During a joint news conference with Mr Netanyahu, Mr Ban condemned Palestinian rocket attacks but urged Israel to show "maximum restraint." |
| "Further escalation benefits no one," he said. | "Further escalation benefits no one," he said. |
| Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007, a year after winning a decisive victory in general elections. Israel withdrew from the strip in 2005 but maintains a blockade around it. | Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007, a year after winning a decisive victory in general elections. Israel withdrew from the strip in 2005 but maintains a blockade around it. |
| Israel, as well as the United States and the European Union, regards Hamas as a terrorist organisation. | Israel, as well as the United States and the European Union, regards Hamas as a terrorist organisation. |
| CLICKABLE | CLICKABLE |
| Tel Aviv | Tel Aviv |
| Ashkelon | Ashkelon |
| Jabaliya,Gaza | Jabaliya,Gaza |
| Gaza City | Gaza City |
Tel Aviv, Israel | Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Panic as rocket targets Tel Aviv sending people fleeing for cover | Panic as rocket targets Tel Aviv sending people fleeing for cover |
Ashkelon, Israel | Ashkelon, Israel |
| Ashkelon bears the brunt of rocket attacks on Israel | Ashkelon bears the brunt of rocket attacks on Israel |
Jabaliya refugee camp | Jabaliya refugee camp |
| A man surveys the rubble of a house in Jabaliya refugee camp | A man surveys the rubble of a house in Jabaliya refugee camp |
Gaza City | Gaza City |
| The homes of at least seven Hamas officials hit in Israeli attacks on Gaza City | The homes of at least seven Hamas officials hit in Israeli attacks on Gaza City |
| Are you in Israel or Gaza? Have you been affected? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Israel or Gaza? Have you been affected? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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