This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7459200.stm

The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Israel and Hamas agree ceasefire Israel and Hamas 'agree truce'
(about 3 hours later)
Israel and militant group Hamas have agreed on a truce starting on Thursday, Palestinian and Israeli officials have told the BBC. Israel and militant group Hamas have agreed to end months of bitter clashes with a truce starting on Thursday, Palestinian officials say.
Israeli officials confirmed the start of the truce, but said Israel was "looking to see if this is serious".
A Hamas official said he was confident all militant groups in Gaza would abide by the agreement, brokered by Egypt.A Hamas official said he was confident all militant groups in Gaza would abide by the agreement, brokered by Egypt.
Earlier at least six Palestinians were reportedly killed in Israeli air strikes in southern Gaza. Israeli officials said they were "looking to see if this is serious".
Israel said it had targeted "terror operatives". Earlier at least six Palestinians were reportedly killed in Israeli air strikes in southern Gaza. Israel said it had targeted "terror operatives".
Islamic Jihad said a missile struck a car carrying five of its members near Khan Younis. A sixth man died in a separate strike nearby.Islamic Jihad said a missile struck a car carrying five of its members near Khan Younis. A sixth man died in a separate strike nearby.
Two-stage dealTwo-stage deal
Hamas took over Gaza in June 2007, driving out forces loyal to Fatah, the political faction led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.Hamas took over Gaza in June 2007, driving out forces loyal to Fatah, the political faction led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Since then, Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the international community have sought to isolate Hamas.Since then, Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the international community have sought to isolate Hamas.
HAMAS 'TRUCE' TIMETABLE 0600 (0300 GMT) Thursday ceasefire beginsafter 24 hours Israel eases crossing restrictionsafter five days Israel opens commercial crossingsafter two weeks Egypt starts talks with all sides to seek reopening of Rafah crossingceasefire applies in Gaza Strip only What chance of lasting peace?
Israel declared the territory a "hostile entity" and has blockaded it in an attempt to pressure Hamas into stopping rocket fire from the strip into Israel.Israel declared the territory a "hostile entity" and has blockaded it in an attempt to pressure Hamas into stopping rocket fire from the strip into Israel.
The truce is due to come into effect at 0600 (0300 GMT) on Thursday. Over the past seven days, more than 20 people have died in Gaza as a result of Israeli military action. In the same period, the Israeli army says that Palestinian militants have fired more than 90 rockets and mortars into Israel.
Egypt, which has worked for months to clinch a deal between Israel and Hamas, urged both sides to "exert all efforts to bring the calm to a success", senior officials were quoted as saying.
The BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem says a ceasefire should lead to an improvement in people's everyday lives in southern Israel and Gaza, but any talk of political upheaval or breakthrough is premature.
Palestinian and Egyptian officials say the truce is to come into effect at 0600 (0300 GMT) on Thursday. As well as a halt to all hostilities, this stage of the deal also envisages a partial reopening of Gaza's borders, they add.
A second stage would focus on the return of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and on a deal to reopen the main Rafah crossing into Egypt, they say.
In the talks process until now, Israeli concerns have centred on whether all militant groups would adhere to a truce, and what Egypt would do to stop arms smuggling into Gaza, says our correspondent.
'New situation'
Israeli officials stress that phone lines to Cairo are "still running hot".
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said: "Words are important, deeds much more so.
"If indeed we see an end of hostile terrorist attacks from Gaza into Israel, if indeed we see the end to the Hamas military build-up inside the Gaza Strip, if indeed we see movement on the issue of our hostage Gilad Shalit, then of course it'll be an entirely new situation."
If anybody does anything, they will be doing it on their own Ahmed YousefHamas officialIf anybody does anything, they will be doing it on their own Ahmed YousefHamas official
This stage of the deal envisages a halt to hostilities and a partial reopening of Gaza's borders. Hamas official Ahmed Yousef told the BBC: "I am confident that everybody will abide by what we've agreed. All the groups which went to Cairo gave their okay to the ceasefire. If anybody does anything, they will be doing it on their own," he said.
A second stage of the plan would focus on the return of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and on a deal to reopen the main Rafah crossing into Egypt. According to a detailed breakdown released by Hamas, Israel will ease its restrictions on Gaza crossings with Israel on Friday morning, followed by the bigger commercial crossings next week.
Israeli officials have listed three conditions for the general success of the truce, the BBC's Tim Franks reports: that there be a total cessation of hostilities; an end to arms smuggling from Egypt into Gaza; and movement on freeing Cpl Shalit, who was captured two years ago. After two weeks, talks will start involving Israel, Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and the European Union on finding agreement on reopening the Rafah crossing into Egypt, Hamas says.
Hamas official Ahmed Yousef told the BBC he hoped that the ceasefire would lead to a further opening of the crossing points from Israel into Gaza, and an increase in the number of supplies. The truce will apply only in Gaza, Hamas says, and it will not be allowed to respond from Gaza to any Israeli action in the West Bank.
"I am confident that everybody will abide by what we've agreed. All the groups which went to Cairo gave their okay to the ceasefire. If anybody does anything, they will be doing it on their own," he said. Next steps
He said that the aim now was to push ahead talks on a prisoner exchange, as well as a new round of talks in Cairo between the rival Palestinian factions of Fatah and Hamas. Egyptian officials say they will continue efforts to broker a similar ceasefire in the West Bank.
Egypt, which has worked for months to bring Israel and Hamas to an agreement, said both sides had accepted the first stage of the deal, state-owned news agency Mena reported. The last ceasefire between Hamas and Israel ended in April last year, shortly before the Islamist movement took control of the Gaza Strip.
"Egypt hopes that the two sides will exert all efforts to bring the calm to a success," the agency quoted a senior official as saying. Mr Yousef said that the aim now was to push ahead talks on a prisoner exchange, as well as a new round of talks in Cairo between the rival factions of Fatah and Hamas.
A delegation from Fatah has already travelled to the Gaza Strip from the West Bank for talks with other party members.
The group is the first representing Mr Abbas to go to Gaza since Hamas seized control. Hamas has said it is prepared to hold talks with the Fatah officials, but there has been no word from Fatah on whether such a meeting will take place.
AdvertisementAdvertisement
The aftermath of Israeli air strikes in southern GazaThe aftermath of Israeli air strikes in southern Gaza