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Hamas and Israel agree five-hour Gaza ceasefire Hamas and Israel agree five-hour Gaza ceasefire
(about 7 hours later)
Hamas and Israel have both agreed to respect a five-hour ceasefire in Gaza after nine days of fighting. Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas have both agreed to respect a five-hour ceasefire in the Gaza Strip after nine days of fighting.
The Israeli military said it would stop firing from 10:00 to 15:00 (07:00-12:00 GMT) on Thursday to allow residents in Gaza to stock up on supplies.The Israeli military said it would stop firing from 10:00 to 15:00 (07:00-12:00 GMT) on Thursday to allow residents in Gaza to stock up on supplies.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zukhri later confirmed that his group would also stop rocket attacks in that time. A Hamas spokesman later confirmed the group would also halt attacks.
Officials in Gaza say Israeli raids have left 220 Palestinians dead. Hamas rocket attacks have killed one Israeli. Officials in Gaza say Israeli raids have left 227 Palestinians dead. Hamas rocket attacks have killed one Israeli.
Israeli army officer Brig Gen Yoav Mordechai told BBC Arabic that the ceasefire had been requested by the UN and other international organisations.
An Israeli military statement warned that Israel would respond "firmly and decisively" should Hamas launch attacks during the ceasefire window.
'Tragic outcome'
Four children were among those killed in Israeli strikes on Wednesday. They died while playing on a beach near Gaza City.
The Israeli military said they were "carefully investigating" the incident, adding that "based on preliminary results, the target of this strike was Hamas terrorist operatives".
"The reported civilian causalities from this strike are a tragic outcome," the statement said.
Israel launched its military operation on 8 July with the stated objective of halting Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel.Israel launched its military operation on 8 July with the stated objective of halting Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel.
However, the UN says most of those killed in Gaza have been civilians.However, the UN says most of those killed in Gaza have been civilians.
Israel accuses Hamas of hiding its military infrastructure within the civilian population.Israel accuses Hamas of hiding its military infrastructure within the civilian population.
Yolande Knell, BBC News, Gaza 'Tragic outcome'
We heard loud thuds by the coast and saw smoke rise behind a beachside hotel used by journalists. The boys who were killed were from a family of fishermen who work in the nearby port. It's understood that they were playing by a shipping container. Witnesses said the site was hit twice. Israeli army officer Brig Gen Yoav Mordechai told BBC Arabic that the ceasefire had been requested by the UN and other international organisations.
Hamas described the attack as a war crime, and called for the United Nations to condemn it. Israel's military says it's investigating what happened. It often targets open areas by the sea which are used by militants to launch rockets into its territory. An Israeli military statement warned that Israel would respond "firmly and decisively" should Hamas launch attacks during the ceasefire window.
Health officials here say 213 Palestinians have been killed in the past nine days. Earlier, in Israel, there was a funeral for the first Israeli civilian killed in this conflict. He was hit by a mortar shell fired from Gaza near the northern border with Israel. Reports in Israeli media say Hamas has presented a list of 10 prerequisites for a 10-year truce with Israel.
Kevin Connolly, BBC Middle East correspondent, Jerusalem The demands reportedly include the easing of the economic blockade on Gaza and an end to Israeli strikes on the territory, as well as the construction of an airport and seaport.
Israel has acknowledged that at least one attack which caused civilian casualties earlier in this conflict was a tragedy - and while it will argue that such incidents take time to investigate, it may do so again. A blockade by Israel and Egypt has been in place since border restrictions were tightened after Hamas ousted rival Fatah from Gaza in 2007, a year after Hamas won parliamentary elections.
But its underlying position does not change. It blames Hamas for civilian fatalities and injuries at two levels. First, it says Hamas bears overall responsibility for the flare-up of hostilities and second, it argues that the Israeli armed forces go to great length to avoid civilian casualties. In the hours leading up to the scheduled ceasefire air strikes and rocket attacks continued.
It says Palestinian militants use their own people as human shields. Palestinians don't accept any of that. They point angrily to the civilian death toll and feel they are being subjected to brutal collective punishment. The Israeli military said its Iron Dome missile shield had intercepted four of 13 rockets fired at Israel since midnight, with the rest striking without causing casualties. Militants had launched more than 1380 rockets since 8 July, it added.
Israel takes every opportunity to make its case to the international community. By accepting the first Egyptian ceasefire proposal, when Hamas did not, it believes it has the political and diplomatic high ground. Attempts to broker a ceasefire may go on - but so does the fighting. Overnight, Israeli forces carried out air strikes on 37 targets in Gaza, bringing the total number of attacks as part of Operation Protective Edge to 1960.
Meanwhile, reports in Israeli media say Hamas has presented a list of 10 prerequisites for a 10-year truce with Israel. The Israeli military also said it had thwarted the infiltration into Israel by 13 Hamas gunmen via a tunnel from southern Gaza on Thursday morning.
The demands reportedly include the easing of the economic blockade on Gaza and a stop to Israeli strikes on the territory, as well as the construction of an airport and seaport. It said the tunnel led towards the southern Israeli community of Sufa.
The Israeli military says its Iron Dome missile shield shot down 23 rockets launched from Gaza on Wednesday, while others struck without causing casualties. Army spokesman Lt Col Peter Lerner said the gunmen were 250 metres (820ft) inside Israel when they were intercepted by Israeli aircraft. He said at least one militant was believed killed and that the others escaped back into Gaza.
On Wednesday four Palestinian children were killed when Israeli artillery fire hit a beach near Gaza City.
The Israeli military said it was "carefully investigating" the incident, adding that "based on preliminary results, the target of this strike was Hamas terrorist operatives".
"The reported civilian causalities from this strike are a tragic outcome," a statement said.
Israel has mobilised tens of thousands of troops on the border with Gaza amid speculation that a ground invasion could be launched.Israel has mobilised tens of thousands of troops on the border with Gaza amid speculation that a ground invasion could be launched.
The UN says at least 1,370 homes have been destroyed in Gaza and more than 18,000 people displaced in recent hostilities.The UN says at least 1,370 homes have been destroyed in Gaza and more than 18,000 people displaced in recent hostilities.
Are you in the area? Please get in touch by emailing Haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk putting the word 'Gaza' in the subject heading.Are you in the area? Please get in touch by emailing Haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk putting the word 'Gaza' in the subject heading.
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