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| Gaza and Israel begin to resume normal life after truce | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| People in Gaza and southern Israel are starting to return to normal life following Wednesday's ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. | |
| A number of rockets were fired from Gaza in the first few hours of the truce, but Israel did not respond. | A number of rockets were fired from Gaza in the first few hours of the truce, but Israel did not respond. |
| However, Israeli schools close to the Gaza Strip were kept closed on Thursday as a precaution. | However, Israeli schools close to the Gaza Strip were kept closed on Thursday as a precaution. |
| Overnight, Israeli security forces arrested 55 people in the West Bank who it said were "terror operatives". | Overnight, Israeli security forces arrested 55 people in the West Bank who it said were "terror operatives". |
| The arrests come after a series of angry protests in the Palestinian territory over Israel's operation in Gaza. Two protesters were killed during clashes with Israeli soldiers. | The arrests come after a series of angry protests in the Palestinian territory over Israel's operation in Gaza. Two protesters were killed during clashes with Israeli soldiers. |
| The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the arrested people were all affiliated with terror groups and included a number of "senior level operatives". | The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the arrested people were all affiliated with terror groups and included a number of "senior level operatives". |
| The arrests, including 13 in Hebron, were part of efforts to "restore calm" to the area, said the IDF. | The arrests, including 13 in Hebron, were part of efforts to "restore calm" to the area, said the IDF. |
| The Israeli military said three rockets had been fired from Gaza since the ceasefire came into effect, two of which were shot down by the Iron Dome defence system. It said there had been no fire in either direction since midnight. | The Israeli military said three rockets had been fired from Gaza since the ceasefire came into effect, two of which were shot down by the Iron Dome defence system. It said there had been no fire in either direction since midnight. |
| 'New start' | 'New start' |
| Israel launched an offensive against Gaza, which it says was aimed at ending rocket fire from Gaza, with the killing of a Hamas military leader last week. | Israel launched an offensive against Gaza, which it says was aimed at ending rocket fire from Gaza, with the killing of a Hamas military leader last week. |
| The UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says provisional figures reported to it from Gaza say that 158 people were killed there. The figures showed 103 were civilians, including at least 30 children and 13 women. The OCHA will now investigate the figures. | The UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says provisional figures reported to it from Gaza say that 158 people were killed there. The figures showed 103 were civilians, including at least 30 children and 13 women. The OCHA will now investigate the figures. |
| On Thursday, an Israeli soldier injured in a mortar attack a day earlier died of his wounds, bringing the Israeli death toll to six - two soldiers and four civilians. | On Thursday, an Israeli soldier injured in a mortar attack a day earlier died of his wounds, bringing the Israeli death toll to six - two soldiers and four civilians. |
| The Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreement came into force at 21:00 (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday evening. | The Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreement came into force at 21:00 (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday evening. |
| Under the deal, Israel has agreed to end all hostilities and targeted killings of militants, while all Palestinian factions will have to stop firing rockets into Israel and staging border attacks. | Under the deal, Israel has agreed to end all hostilities and targeted killings of militants, while all Palestinian factions will have to stop firing rockets into Israel and staging border attacks. |
| Israel must also begin talks about opening Gaza's border crossings and easing restrictions on the movement of people and goods. | Israel must also begin talks about opening Gaza's border crossings and easing restrictions on the movement of people and goods. |
| The BBC's Jon Donnison in Gaza City says the city was transformed overnight, as people who had spent days sheltering from air strikes and shelling flooded into the streets, some of them firing weapons into the air in celebration. | The BBC's Jon Donnison in Gaza City says the city was transformed overnight, as people who had spent days sheltering from air strikes and shelling flooded into the streets, some of them firing weapons into the air in celebration. |
| Hamas has declared Thursday a public holiday, to mark what it is describing as its victory over Israel. | Hamas has declared Thursday a public holiday, to mark what it is describing as its victory over Israel. |
| In the morning, there were traffic jams on the streets, shops opened for business and queues formed at banks and cash machines. Cleaning and repair work was also being carried out on the many buildings damaged by air strikes. | In the morning, there were traffic jams on the streets, shops opened for business and queues formed at banks and cash machines. Cleaning and repair work was also being carried out on the many buildings damaged by air strikes. |
| "The situation is very good today, we've returned back to work as normal," 40-year-old vegetable stall owner Hani Hamadeh told Reuters news agency. | "The situation is very good today, we've returned back to work as normal," 40-year-old vegetable stall owner Hani Hamadeh told Reuters news agency. |
| "There are lots of customers today, people are going out for the first time after eight days of war and doing their shopping." | "There are lots of customers today, people are going out for the first time after eight days of war and doing their shopping." |
| Ashraf Diaa, a 38-year-old engineer from Gaza City, told the Associated Press: "Today is different, the morning coffee tastes different and I feel we are off to a new start." | Ashraf Diaa, a 38-year-old engineer from Gaza City, told the Associated Press: "Today is different, the morning coffee tastes different and I feel we are off to a new start." |
| But both sides have said they will retaliate if the other breaks the truce. | But both sides have said they will retaliate if the other breaks the truce. |
| "If Israel complies, we are compliant. If it does not comply, our hands are on the trigger," said Hamas's exiled leader, Khaled Meshaal, at a news conference in Cairo. | "If Israel complies, we are compliant. If it does not comply, our hands are on the trigger," said Hamas's exiled leader, Khaled Meshaal, at a news conference in Cairo. |
| Israeli media quoted Defence Minister Ehud Barak as saying that the truce was not a formal agreement but a set of understandings. | Israeli media quoted Defence Minister Ehud Barak as saying that the truce was not a formal agreement but a set of understandings. |
| It "could last nine days or nine weeks or more but if it doesn't hold, we know what to do and of course, we will consider the possibility of resuming our activity if there is any firing or provocations", he told Israeli public radio. | It "could last nine days or nine weeks or more but if it doesn't hold, we know what to do and of course, we will consider the possibility of resuming our activity if there is any firing or provocations", he told Israeli public radio. |
| In its first statement since the current flare-up began, the UN Security Council on Wednesday called on Israel and Hamas to uphold the agreement, and commended Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi and others involved in the diplomatic effort. | In its first statement since the current flare-up began, the UN Security Council on Wednesday called on Israel and Hamas to uphold the agreement, and commended Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi and others involved in the diplomatic effort. |
| The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Jerusalem says that in the early stages of the ceasefire, success will be measured from minute to minute. | The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Jerusalem says that in the early stages of the ceasefire, success will be measured from minute to minute. |
| The more time that passes without rocket fire from Gaza or an air raid from Israel, the more confident civilians on both sides will feel, he adds. | The more time that passes without rocket fire from Gaza or an air raid from Israel, the more confident civilians on both sides will feel, he adds. |
| In Israel, however, small protests were held in communities such as the southern town of Kiryat Malachi, where three people were killed by a rocket fired from Gaza during the conflict. | In Israel, however, small protests were held in communities such as the southern town of Kiryat Malachi, where three people were killed by a rocket fired from Gaza during the conflict. |
| Protesters said the military should have hit Hamas harder and some banners denounced "agreements with terrorists". | Protesters said the military should have hit Hamas harder and some banners denounced "agreements with terrorists". |
| Israel says it targeted 1,500 "terror sites" during what it termed Operation Pillar of Defence, including 30 senior militants, 980 underground rocket launchers and 140 smuggling tunnels. | Israel says it targeted 1,500 "terror sites" during what it termed Operation Pillar of Defence, including 30 senior militants, 980 underground rocket launchers and 140 smuggling tunnels. |
| The IDF said that, for the first time, militants in Gaza had fired long-range rockets, such as the Fajr-5, toward Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. | The IDF said that, for the first time, militants in Gaza had fired long-range rockets, such as the Fajr-5, toward Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. |
| Are you in Israel or Gaza? Send us your comments and experiences. | Are you in Israel or Gaza? Send us your comments and experiences. |