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| Rocket fire tests Gaza ceasefire | Rocket fire tests Gaza ceasefire |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A volley of rockets has been fired into southern Israel from Gaza, hours after a unilateral Israeli ceasefire began. | A volley of rockets has been fired into southern Israel from Gaza, hours after a unilateral Israeli ceasefire began. |
| At least four out of five rockets landed near the town of Sderot, the Israeli military said. There were no reports of casualties or damage. | At least four out of five rockets landed near the town of Sderot, the Israeli military said. There were no reports of casualties or damage. |
| It puts a strain on the ceasefire, which came into effect at 0200 (0000 GMT) after three weeks of fighting. | It puts a strain on the ceasefire, which came into effect at 0200 (0000 GMT) after three weeks of fighting. |
| Israel says its troops will not pull out for now, but Hamas said it would not accept an Israeli presence in Gaza. | Israel says its troops will not pull out for now, but Hamas said it would not accept an Israeli presence in Gaza. |
| Nearly 1,200 Palestinians and 13 Israelis have been killed since Israel launched its offensive against Hamas on 27 December. | Nearly 1,200 Palestinians and 13 Israelis have been killed since Israel launched its offensive against Hamas on 27 December. |
| GAZA LATEST Excerpts: Olmert declares ceasefireCeasefire may not end warLebanese fear next stepSurvivors count losses in Rafah | |
| Shortly before the rockets fell, Israeli troops briefly exchanged fire with Hamas militants in the north of the Gaza Strip after coming under attack, Israeli military officials said. | Shortly before the rockets fell, Israeli troops briefly exchanged fire with Hamas militants in the north of the Gaza Strip after coming under attack, Israeli military officials said. |
| International leaders are due in Egypt on Sunday for a summit aimed at shoring up the ceasefire. | |
| Heads of state from across Europe will join Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas and UN chief Ban Ki-moon at Sharm El-Shiekh to give their backing to a permanent peace. | Heads of state from across Europe will join Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas and UN chief Ban Ki-moon at Sharm El-Shiekh to give their backing to a permanent peace. |
| Olmert warningThe rockets were fired at about 0900, Israeli police said. | |
| Hours earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the nation that Israel was halting its offensive whose goals "have been more than fully achieved". The stopping of rocket-fire had been a chief aim of the military campaign. | |
| Osama Hamdan, the Hamas representative in Lebanon, said Israel had failed in its objectives | Osama Hamdan, the Hamas representative in Lebanon, said Israel had failed in its objectives |
| In a televised address, Mr Olmert warned militants in Gaza that if they "decide the blows they've been dealt are not sufficient and they are interested in continuing the fight, Israel will be prepared for such and feel free to continue to react with force". | |
| Hamas has rejected the Israeli ceasefire, saying any continued Israeli presence in Gaza would be regarded as an act of war. | |
| "The occupier must halt his fire immediately and withdraw from our land and lift his blockade and open all crossings and we will not accept any one Zionist soldier on our land, regardless of the price that it costs," Hamas spokesman Farzi Barhoum said, shortly before the ceasefire began. | |
| Israel has begun withdrawing some of its troops from Gaza, says the BBC's Katya Adler in Jerusalem. | |
| But it says others will remain for now and strike back if Israel continues to come under attack. | |
| Eyes on Hamas | |
| The US has welcomed the ceasefire, saying it "expects that all parties will cease attacks and hostile actions immediately". GAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND In depth: Gaza conflictQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps Secretary General Ban expressed relief, saying the ceasefire should be "the first step leading to the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza". | |
| Aid organisations have expressed concern that crossings into Gaza will not reopen fully unless Hamas is committed to a ceasefire. | |
| BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen says the question now is whether Hamas decides to lick its wounds and regroup - or whether it gambles on dragging Israel into a war of attrition. | BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen says the question now is whether Hamas decides to lick its wounds and regroup - or whether it gambles on dragging Israel into a war of attrition. |
| Hamas representatives have been taking part in talks in Cairo, brokered by President Mubarak, aimed at reaching a bilateral deal. | |
| On Saturday, Germany, France and Britain sent identical letters to the Israeli and Egyptian governments offering support for a ceasefire and their help in preventing arms smuggling into Gaza. | On Saturday, Germany, France and Britain sent identical letters to the Israeli and Egyptian governments offering support for a ceasefire and their help in preventing arms smuggling into Gaza. |