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Egypt proposes Israel-Gaza ceasefire | Egypt proposes Israel-Gaza ceasefire |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Egypt has proposed a ceasefire to end a week of cross-border fire between the Gaza Strip and Israel. | Egypt has proposed a ceasefire to end a week of cross-border fire between the Gaza Strip and Israel. |
The initiative urges a ceasefire starting early on Tuesday followed by a series of meetings in Cairo with high-level delegations from both sides. | |
However an official from Hamas, which controls Gaza, said a full deal would have to come first, before a ceasefire. | |
Israeli officials said PM Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet would discuss the proposal early on Tuesday. | |
A senior Israeli official told the BBC that Hamas was "much weaker" after air strikes destroyed many of its rockets and manufacturing facilities. | A senior Israeli official told the BBC that Hamas was "much weaker" after air strikes destroyed many of its rockets and manufacturing facilities. |
The ceasefire calls comes ahead of an urgent meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo. | |
Hamas, the faction that controls Gaza, confirmed that truce efforts were under way. | |
But a Hamas official told the AFP news agency that a political agreement must be reached before a ceasefire could take effect. | |
"A ceasefire without reaching an agreement is rejected. In times of war, you don't cease fire and then negotiate," said spokesperson Fawzi Barhum. | |
Palestinian officials say at least 175 people in Gaza have been killed by Israeli air strikes since the offensive began last Tuesday. | Palestinian officials say at least 175 people in Gaza have been killed by Israeli air strikes since the offensive began last Tuesday. |
Israel says nearly 1,000 rockets have been fired from Gaza in that time. | Israel says nearly 1,000 rockets have been fired from Gaza in that time. |
Thousands of people have fled their homes in northern Gaza after an Israeli warning and Israel has also massed thousands of troops on the border, amid speculation of a possible ground invasion. | Thousands of people have fled their homes in northern Gaza after an Israeli warning and Israel has also massed thousands of troops on the border, amid speculation of a possible ground invasion. |
Cairo focus | |
Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader in Gaza, said in a speech broadcast on al-Jazeera that Hamas was not only seeking an end to the fighting but also an easing of the Israeli blockade that has crippled life in Gaza. | Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader in Gaza, said in a speech broadcast on al-Jazeera that Hamas was not only seeking an end to the fighting but also an easing of the Israeli blockade that has crippled life in Gaza. |
"The problem is the reality of Gaza, the siege, the starving, the bombing. The siege must stop and people in Gaza need to live in dignity," he said. | "The problem is the reality of Gaza, the siege, the starving, the bombing. The siege must stop and people in Gaza need to live in dignity," he said. |
Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza when Hamas - which is designated a terrorist group by Israel, the US and other countries - took over in 2007. | Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza when Hamas - which is designated a terrorist group by Israel, the US and other countries - took over in 2007. |
Israel is demanding an end to rocket attacks on its towns and cities from Gaza. | Israel is demanding an end to rocket attacks on its towns and cities from Gaza. |
Egyptian state media has reported that US Secretary of State John Kerry will be in Cairo on Tuesday to try to help broker a truce, but the US has not confirmed this. | Egyptian state media has reported that US Secretary of State John Kerry will be in Cairo on Tuesday to try to help broker a truce, but the US has not confirmed this. |
Middle East peace envoy Tony Blair welcomed the Egyptian proposal and praised the "leadership Egypt has shown in doing so". | Middle East peace envoy Tony Blair welcomed the Egyptian proposal and praised the "leadership Egypt has shown in doing so". |
"Such a ceasefire can halt the tragic loss of life, stop the rockets on Israel - and open up the possibility of a genuine change in Gaza," he said. | "Such a ceasefire can halt the tragic loss of life, stop the rockets on Israel - and open up the possibility of a genuine change in Gaza," he said. |
The BBC's Orla Guerin in Cairo says Egypt has been accused of failing to play its usual role of mediator between Israel and Hamas. | The BBC's Orla Guerin in Cairo says Egypt has been accused of failing to play its usual role of mediator between Israel and Hamas. |
After a week of bloodshed, it has now at least produced a blueprint for a deal, she adds. | After a week of bloodshed, it has now at least produced a blueprint for a deal, she adds. |
In 2012 Egypt's then-President Mohammed Morsi brokered a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, using the influence his Muslim Brotherhood held with the Palestinian group. | In 2012 Egypt's then-President Mohammed Morsi brokered a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, using the influence his Muslim Brotherhood held with the Palestinian group. |
The current outbreak of violence followed the killing of three Israeli teenagers in June and the suspected revenge killing of a Palestinian teenager in Jerusalem. | The current outbreak of violence followed the killing of three Israeli teenagers in June and the suspected revenge killing of a Palestinian teenager in Jerusalem. |
Israeli officials said on Monday that three arrested Israeli Jews had confessed to the murder of the Palestinian, Mohammed Abu Khdair. | Israeli officials said on Monday that three arrested Israeli Jews had confessed to the murder of the Palestinian, Mohammed Abu Khdair. |
The three, whose names have not been released, have been remanded in custody. | The three, whose names have not been released, have been remanded in custody. |
The UN estimates that 77% of those killed in Gaza have been civilians. | The UN estimates that 77% of those killed in Gaza have been civilians. |
However Israel disputes the figures, saying they are based on Hamas sources and are not objective. | However Israel disputes the figures, saying they are based on Hamas sources and are not objective. |
A military spokesman told the BBC that Israel had aborted some attacks for fear of killing civilians. | A military spokesman told the BBC that Israel had aborted some attacks for fear of killing civilians. |
Israel says it is targeting Hamas militants and "terror sites", including the homes of senior operatives. | Israel says it is targeting Hamas militants and "terror sites", including the homes of senior operatives. |
In a statement, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said: "We do not wish to harm civilians in Gaza, but these civilians must know that remaining in close proximity to Hamas terrorists and infrastructures is extremely unsafe." | In a statement, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said: "We do not wish to harm civilians in Gaza, but these civilians must know that remaining in close proximity to Hamas terrorists and infrastructures is extremely unsafe." |
Are you in Israel or Gaza? What are your hopes for a ceasefire? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Israel Gaza'. | Are you in Israel or Gaza? What are your hopes for a ceasefire? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Israel Gaza'. |