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| Gaza 72-hour humanitarian truce by Israel and Hamas begins | Gaza 72-hour humanitarian truce by Israel and Hamas begins |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Israel and Hamas have put into effect an unconditional 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. | Israel and Hamas have put into effect an unconditional 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. |
| However, hours after the truce began, Palestinians said four people had been killed by Israeli fire, apparently in response to a rocket attack. | However, hours after the truce began, Palestinians said four people had been killed by Israeli fire, apparently in response to a rocket attack. |
| Israel accused Hamas of a "flagrant violation" of the ceasefire, but correspondents say Gaza in general appears relatively quiet. | |
| Israel says it is continuing to destroy tunnels built by Hamas into Israel. | |
| Some 1,460 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died in the conflict, health officials say. Sixty-three Israelis, mostly soldiers, have died. | Some 1,460 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died in the conflict, health officials say. Sixty-three Israelis, mostly soldiers, have died. |
| Israel says it aims to stop rocket attacks by Palestinian militants in Gaza and remove the threat of being attacked from the tunnels. | Israel says it aims to stop rocket attacks by Palestinian militants in Gaza and remove the threat of being attacked from the tunnels. |
| Hamas wants a blockade of Gaza, maintained by both Israel and Egypt, to be lifted. | Hamas wants a blockade of Gaza, maintained by both Israel and Egypt, to be lifted. |
| 'Much needed reprieve' | 'Much needed reprieve' |
| The BBC's Jon Donnison in Gaza says that Israeli bombing and Palestinian rocket attacks continued until the start of the ceasefire but the skies are now quiet. | The BBC's Jon Donnison in Gaza says that Israeli bombing and Palestinian rocket attacks continued until the start of the ceasefire but the skies are now quiet. |
| During the morning life appeared to be returning to some kind of normality in Gaza, with many Palestinians heading towards heavily shelled areas to see if their homes were still intact. | During the morning life appeared to be returning to some kind of normality in Gaza, with many Palestinians heading towards heavily shelled areas to see if their homes were still intact. |
| But the Gaza health ministry reported that four Palestinians were killed and dozens were injured in an Israeli attack near the southern town of Rafah after the ceasefire began. | But the Gaza health ministry reported that four Palestinians were killed and dozens were injured in an Israeli attack near the southern town of Rafah after the ceasefire began. |
| Israeli military sources told the BBC the attack was in response to rocket fire on Kerem Shalom in Israel. | Israeli military sources told the BBC the attack was in response to rocket fire on Kerem Shalom in Israel. |
| "Once again the terror organisations in Gaza flagrantly violating the ceasefire to which they committed themselves," Israeli officials said without specifying any incident. | |
| The BBC's Martin Patience in Gaza says that compared to the violence of recent weeks much of Gaza is relatively quiet, and the breach does not mean the truce has broken down. | The BBC's Martin Patience in Gaza says that compared to the violence of recent weeks much of Gaza is relatively quiet, and the breach does not mean the truce has broken down. |
| Announcing the ceasefire, the US and UN emphasised its humanitarian nature but said Israeli troops would be allowed to stay on the ground in Gaza. | Announcing the ceasefire, the US and UN emphasised its humanitarian nature but said Israeli troops would be allowed to stay on the ground in Gaza. |
| "We urge all parties to act with restraint until this humanitarian ceasefire begins, and to fully abide by their commitments during the ceasefire," US Secretary of State John Kerry and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in the joint statement. | "We urge all parties to act with restraint until this humanitarian ceasefire begins, and to fully abide by their commitments during the ceasefire," US Secretary of State John Kerry and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in the joint statement. |
| "This ceasefire is critical to giving innocent civilians a much-needed reprieve from violence," the statement went on. | "This ceasefire is critical to giving innocent civilians a much-needed reprieve from violence," the statement went on. |
| It said that during the ceasefire period, civilians in Gaza would receive "urgently needed humanitarian relief, and the opportunity to carry out vital functions, including burying the dead, taking care of the injured and restocking food supplies". | It said that during the ceasefire period, civilians in Gaza would receive "urgently needed humanitarian relief, and the opportunity to carry out vital functions, including burying the dead, taking care of the injured and restocking food supplies". |
| Speaking in India, Mr Kerry warned that a break in the fighting did not guarantee an end to the conflict. | Speaking in India, Mr Kerry warned that a break in the fighting did not guarantee an end to the conflict. |
| "This is a respite. It is a moment of opportunity, not an end," he said. | "This is a respite. It is a moment of opportunity, not an end," he said. |
| Israeli and Palestinian delegations have arrived in Cairo for negotiations with the government of Egypt, at the invitation of Egypt, the statement said, with the aim of reaching "a durable ceasefire". | |
| Correspondents say both Israel and Hamas will be content with a long-term truce similar to those that ended the conflicts in 2009 and 2012. | Correspondents say both Israel and Hamas will be content with a long-term truce similar to those that ended the conflicts in 2009 and 2012. |
| Hamas and the broader Palestinian authorities are seeking an end to the blockade on Gaza. | Hamas and the broader Palestinian authorities are seeking an end to the blockade on Gaza. |
| Israel meanwhile wants the demilitarisation of Gaza and international guarantees against the replenishment of Hamas rocket stockpiles and the building of new tunnels into Israel, the New York Times reports. | Israel meanwhile wants the demilitarisation of Gaza and international guarantees against the replenishment of Hamas rocket stockpiles and the building of new tunnels into Israel, the New York Times reports. |
| Ceasefires timeline | Ceasefires timeline |
| Gaza-Israel conflict: What is the fighting about? | Gaza-Israel conflict: What is the fighting about? |
| Gaza crisis: Toll of operations in Gaza | Gaza crisis: Toll of operations in Gaza |
| 'Rockets within schools' | 'Rockets within schools' |
| After days of diplomatic despondency, this is an unforeseen breakthrough, the BBC's UN correspondent Nick Bryant reports from New York. | After days of diplomatic despondency, this is an unforeseen breakthrough, the BBC's UN correspondent Nick Bryant reports from New York. |
| Qatar and Turkey are reported to have been key to ceasefire efforts as they can communicate with Hamas, which has difficult relations with many other countries. | Qatar and Turkey are reported to have been key to ceasefire efforts as they can communicate with Hamas, which has difficult relations with many other countries. |
| UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has accused both sides of violating the rules of war. | UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has accused both sides of violating the rules of war. |
| She said Hamas had done so by "locating rockets within schools and hospitals, or even launching these rockets from densely populated areas", while Israel had attacked civilian areas of Gaza such as schools, hospitals, homes and UN facilities. | She said Hamas had done so by "locating rockets within schools and hospitals, or even launching these rockets from densely populated areas", while Israel had attacked civilian areas of Gaza such as schools, hospitals, homes and UN facilities. |
| More detail: Life in the Gaza Strip | More detail: Life in the Gaza Strip |
| An attack on a school in the Jabaliya refugee camp on Wednesday morning killed at least 16 displaced civilians, while the shelling of a market near Gaza City on the same day killed 17 people. | An attack on a school in the Jabaliya refugee camp on Wednesday morning killed at least 16 displaced civilians, while the shelling of a market near Gaza City on the same day killed 17 people. |
| The US described the shelling of the school as "totally indefensible" and urged Israel to do more to protect civilian life. | The US described the shelling of the school as "totally indefensible" and urged Israel to do more to protect civilian life. |
| Israel said it would investigate the shelling and apologise if Israeli fire was responsible. | Israel said it would investigate the shelling and apologise if Israeli fire was responsible. |
| Speaking earlier on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military would continue dismantling Hamas' tunnel network "with or without a ceasefire". | Speaking earlier on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military would continue dismantling Hamas' tunnel network "with or without a ceasefire". |
| Israel has uncovered a complex network of tunnels dug by militants under the border to infiltrate and attack Israeli troops and civilians. | Israel has uncovered a complex network of tunnels dug by militants under the border to infiltrate and attack Israeli troops and civilians. |
| But a senior Israeli official told the BBC that 70-80% of the tunnels had been "neutralised" and just a few more days were needed to dismantle the remainder. | But a senior Israeli official told the BBC that 70-80% of the tunnels had been "neutralised" and just a few more days were needed to dismantle the remainder. |
| Israel occupied Gaza in the 1967 Middle East war and only pulled its troops and settlers out in 2005. | Israel occupied Gaza in the 1967 Middle East war and only pulled its troops and settlers out in 2005. |
| Israel considered this the end of the occupation, but it still exercises control over most of Gaza's borders, water and airspace. Egypt controls Gaza's southern border. | Israel considered this the end of the occupation, but it still exercises control over most of Gaza's borders, water and airspace. Egypt controls Gaza's southern border. |
| Are you in Gaza or Israel? What is your reaction to the ceasefire? Have you been affected by the violence? You can send us your views and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "Gaza Israel". If you are willing to feature in an interview, please ensure you include your contact details and a photograph of yourself to help us illustrate the story. | Are you in Gaza or Israel? What is your reaction to the ceasefire? Have you been affected by the violence? You can send us your views and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "Gaza Israel". If you are willing to feature in an interview, please ensure you include your contact details and a photograph of yourself to help us illustrate the story. |