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Gaza ceasefire comes into force Gaza ceasefire comes into force
(about 4 hours later)
A ceasefire has begun in the Gaza Strip after several days of fierce fighting between the two main Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah.A ceasefire has begun in the Gaza Strip after several days of fierce fighting between the two main Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah.
The truce came into effect at 0300 (0100 GMT), after being announced by Mahmoud Zahar, foreign minister in the Hamas government. But several firefights have broken and a Hamas member has been shot dead.
Fighting between the two rival groups has left more than 30 people dead in recent days. The truce came into effect at 0300 (0100 GMT), after being announced by Mahmoud Zahar, foreign minister in the Hamas-led government.
It is the worst violence since Hamas came to power in 2006. Recent fighting between the groups has left 30 dead, the worst violence since Hamas came to power in 2006.
A spokesman for the Islamist militant Hamas movement said one of its members had been shot dead in Gaza on Tuesday by rival Fatah gunmen. Details of the incident have not been confirmed.
Street battles had intensified over the past five days amid a bitter power struggle between the two sides in Gaza.Street battles had intensified over the past five days amid a bitter power struggle between the two sides in Gaza.
The BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza says there have been no reports of serious clashes since the ceasefire came into force. The BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza says it will be some hours before it will be possible to tell whether the truce will hold.
But he says it will be some hours yet before it will be possible to tell whether the truce will really hold.
As the ceasefire was declared, Israeli aircraft bombed a tunnel under the Gaza-Egypt border.As the ceasefire was declared, Israeli aircraft bombed a tunnel under the Gaza-Egypt border.
The Israeli military said the tunnel was going to be used by Palestinian militants to attack Israeli targets.The Israeli military said the tunnel was going to be used by Palestinian militants to attack Israeli targets.
It came one day after a Palestinian suicide bomber from Gaza killed three people in the Israeli resort of Eilat.It came one day after a Palestinian suicide bomber from Gaza killed three people in the Israeli resort of Eilat.
MediationMediation
Mr Zahar announced the truce flanked by Fatah representatives after talks between Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas and a senior aide to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah.Mr Zahar announced the truce flanked by Fatah representatives after talks between Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas and a senior aide to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah.
Despite all the bitterness and sadness that we are feeling, we will work to make it succeed Maher MekdadFatah spokesman Rough year under Hamas "All clashes must stop and armed men must withdraw immediately from the streets," he said, reading from a joint statement.Despite all the bitterness and sadness that we are feeling, we will work to make it succeed Maher MekdadFatah spokesman Rough year under Hamas "All clashes must stop and armed men must withdraw immediately from the streets," he said, reading from a joint statement.
He said the two sides had also agreed to remove checkpoints that had sprung up in many places and release hostages taken recently.He said the two sides had also agreed to remove checkpoints that had sprung up in many places and release hostages taken recently.
Fatah spokesman Maher Mekdad said his group would observe the ceasefire.Fatah spokesman Maher Mekdad said his group would observe the ceasefire.
"Despite all the bitterness and sadness that we are feeling, we will work to make it succeed," the Associated Press news agency quoted him as saying."Despite all the bitterness and sadness that we are feeling, we will work to make it succeed," the Associated Press news agency quoted him as saying.
Egyptian diplomats brokered the Hamas-Fatah deal which came after days of mediation.Egyptian diplomats brokered the Hamas-Fatah deal which came after days of mediation.
The clashes erupted after weeks of relative calm and led both sides to suspend talks aimed at forming a national unity government.The clashes erupted after weeks of relative calm and led both sides to suspend talks aimed at forming a national unity government.
A similar deal was reached a few days ago, but our correspondent says that Monday's truce has a better chance of sticking as fighting has been less intense in the last 48 hours.A similar deal was reached a few days ago, but our correspondent says that Monday's truce has a better chance of sticking as fighting has been less intense in the last 48 hours.