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Gaza conflict: 12-hour truce as deaths top 900 Gaza conflict: 12-hour truce as deaths top 900
(about 1 hour later)
Residents in Gaza are using a 12-hour humanitarian truce to return to their homes, gather essential supplies and search for those trapped in the rubble.Residents in Gaza are using a 12-hour humanitarian truce to return to their homes, gather essential supplies and search for those trapped in the rubble.
At least 60 bodies have been recovered and taken to the Shifa Hospital morgue, with more thought to remain buried. At least 85 bodies have been pulled from the rubble during the truce, a Palestinian health official says.
Some 940 Palestinians have died since the Israel-Hamas conflict began on 8 July, with 5,870 injured, officials say. Thirty-eight Israelis have died. That raises the Palestinian death toll to 985 since the Israel-Hamas conflict began on 8 July, the spokesman said. Thirty-nine Israelis have died.
International talks on a longer truce are resuming in Paris. International talks on a longer truce have resumed in Paris.
Correspondents reported a tense situation in areas hardest-hit by air strikes and tank shelling, but some semblance of normal life returning.
Israel said it would continue to "locate and neutralise" Hamas tunnels during the pause, which began at 08:00 local time (05:00 GMT).Israel said it would continue to "locate and neutralise" Hamas tunnels during the pause, which began at 08:00 local time (05:00 GMT).
Israeli strikes killed at least 19 Palestinians overnight at a family home near Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. So far 31 tunnels have been discovered, with about half destroyed, Israeli's military says.
Two Israeli soldiers were also killed, Israel's military confirmed. The Iron Dome defence system intercepted three rockets fired towards the southern Israeli town of Ashkelon overnight. Before the truce began, Israeli strikes killed at least 19 Palestinians overnight at a family home near Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
Images showed relatives weeping as the bodies of five children were taken to a local morgue.
Two Israeli soldiers were also killed overnight, Israel's military confirmed.
The Iron Dome defence system intercepted three rockets fired towards the southern Israeli town of Ashkelon overnight.
'Astonishing scene': Ian Pannell, BBC News, Gaza City'Astonishing scene': Ian Pannell, BBC News, Gaza City
In the district of Shejaiya, residents started flooding back from 08:00, despite warnings not to do so.In the district of Shejaiya, residents started flooding back from 08:00, despite warnings not to do so.
The scene here is just astonishing - the most widespread destruction: buildings completely pulverised, cars thrown 50m (160ft) into the air on top of buildings, the facades of some block of flats completely ripped off.The scene here is just astonishing - the most widespread destruction: buildings completely pulverised, cars thrown 50m (160ft) into the air on top of buildings, the facades of some block of flats completely ripped off.
The air is pretty thick with the stench of death as people try to recover bodies and belongings.The air is pretty thick with the stench of death as people try to recover bodies and belongings.
In the background I can hear a crackle of gunfire. Although a humanitarian ceasefire is in place, clearly people are still shooting. There is an Israeli drone flying overhead, and we've heard the sound of fighter jets.In the background I can hear a crackle of gunfire. Although a humanitarian ceasefire is in place, clearly people are still shooting. There is an Israeli drone flying overhead, and we've heard the sound of fighter jets.
I think people feel they have a brief window of opportunity to do as much as they can and then frankly get out of here.I think people feel they have a brief window of opportunity to do as much as they can and then frankly get out of here.
Follow Ian Pannell's tweets from GazaFollow Ian Pannell's tweets from Gaza
'Confident of ceasefire''Confident of ceasefire'
US Secretary of State John Kerry is meeting the foreign ministers of Turkey, Qatar and some European countries in Paris in the hopes of agreeing a longer ceasefire.US Secretary of State John Kerry is meeting the foreign ministers of Turkey, Qatar and some European countries in Paris in the hopes of agreeing a longer ceasefire.
Mr Kerry spent a week in the Middle East attempting to broker a deal before leaving Egypt on Friday.Mr Kerry spent a week in the Middle East attempting to broker a deal before leaving Egypt on Friday.
"The goal is to bring together international efforts so that as quickly as possible conditions for a cease-fire in Gaza emerge," said a French foreign ministry spokesman."The goal is to bring together international efforts so that as quickly as possible conditions for a cease-fire in Gaza emerge," said a French foreign ministry spokesman.
Hamas insists that any ceasefire should include a lifting of the blockade imposed on Gaza by Israel and Egypt since 2007.Hamas insists that any ceasefire should include a lifting of the blockade imposed on Gaza by Israel and Egypt since 2007.
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said Israel "appreciated" Mr Kerry's continued efforts, and that Israel wanted "peace and quiet".
"The people of Gaza are not our enemy, our enemy are the people shooting those rockets into Israeli cities," Mr Regev told the BBC.
Israel is reported to want to continue operations against Hamas infiltration tunnels once direct conflict ends.Israel is reported to want to continue operations against Hamas infiltration tunnels once direct conflict ends.
In the meantime, the 12-hour truce was agreed overnight, although the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) vowed to respond if attacked. "We will respond if terrorists choose to exploit this time to attack IDF personnel or fire at Israeli civilians," it said in a statement. In the meantime, the 12-hour truce was agreed overnight, although the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) vowed to respond if attacked.
The announcement of the humanitarian truce came shortly after Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon warned that ground operations in Gaza could soon be broadened "significantly". The truce came shortly after Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon warned that ground operations in Gaza could soon be broadened "significantly".
The British ambassador to the UN, Mark Lyall Grant, said he was disappointed at the failure to reach a longer-term truce.The British ambassador to the UN, Mark Lyall Grant, said he was disappointed at the failure to reach a longer-term truce.
But he welcomed Saturday's 12-hour pause, saying it could "open up a little bit of space to work on a more sustainable ceasefire".But he welcomed Saturday's 12-hour pause, saying it could "open up a little bit of space to work on a more sustainable ceasefire".
Separately, the UK confirmed it would send £2m ($3.39m) of additional assistance to the UN Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa) in Gaza.Separately, the UK confirmed it would send £2m ($3.39m) of additional assistance to the UN Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa) in Gaza.
West Bank clashes
There were also clashes during protests in the West Bank on Friday which left at least five Palestinians dead.There were also clashes during protests in the West Bank on Friday which left at least five Palestinians dead.
Palestinians in the West Bank had declared a "Day of Rage" against Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip.Palestinians in the West Bank had declared a "Day of Rage" against Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile Israel's military said its Iron Dome defence system had intercepted several rockets fired across the border by Hamas.
Israel launched its military offensive on 8 July with the declared objective of stopping Hamas firing rockets into Israel.Israel launched its military offensive on 8 July with the declared objective of stopping Hamas firing rockets into Israel.
It has since extended its operation to destroy tunnels dug by militants to infiltrate Israel.It has since extended its operation to destroy tunnels dug by militants to infiltrate Israel.
Are you in the West Bank, Gaza or Israel? How has the ceasefire affected you? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Israel Gaza'.Are you in the West Bank, Gaza or Israel? How has the ceasefire affected you? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Israel Gaza'.