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Gaza conflict: Israel and Hamas agree 12-hour window | Gaza conflict: Israel and Hamas agree 12-hour window |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Israel and Hamas have said they have accepted a 12-hour humanitarian window in Gaza. | Israel and Hamas have said they have accepted a 12-hour humanitarian window in Gaza. |
The truce is due to begin at 0800 local time (0500 GMT). Efforts to negotiate a seven-day ceasefire are still ongoing. | The truce is due to begin at 0800 local time (0500 GMT). Efforts to negotiate a seven-day ceasefire are still ongoing. |
Earlier US Secretary of State John Kerry said he was still confident of a longer ceasefire, despite media reports that Israel had rejected one proposal. | Earlier US Secretary of State John Kerry said he was still confident of a longer ceasefire, despite media reports that Israel had rejected one proposal. |
More than 800 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and 38 Israelis have died since the conflict started on 8 July. | |
A spokesman for Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, Sami Abu Zuhri said there was "national consensus on a humanitarian truce... for 12 hours on Saturday". | A spokesman for Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, Sami Abu Zuhri said there was "national consensus on a humanitarian truce... for 12 hours on Saturday". |
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later confirmed the truce on Twitter, but said it would "continue to locate and neutralise terror tunnels". | The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later confirmed the truce on Twitter, but said it would "continue to locate and neutralise terror tunnels". |
"We will respond if terrorists choose to exploit this time to attack IDF personnel or fire at Israeli civilians," it said in a statement. | "We will respond if terrorists choose to exploit this time to attack IDF personnel or fire at Israeli civilians," it said in a statement. |
The news came shortly after Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon warned that ground operations in Gaza could soon be broadened "significantly". | The news came shortly after Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon warned that ground operations in Gaza could soon be broadened "significantly". |
Mr Yaalon told soldiers: "You need to be ready for the possibility that very soon we will instruct the military to significantly broaden the ground operation in Gaza". | Mr Yaalon told soldiers: "You need to be ready for the possibility that very soon we will instruct the military to significantly broaden the ground operation in Gaza". |
Hamas has previously said it would not agree to any long-term truce that did not lead to an end to Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip. | Hamas has previously said it would not agree to any long-term truce that did not lead to an end to Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip. |
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 truce, saying it could "open up a little bit of space to work on a more sustainable ceasefire." | But he welcomed Saturday's 12-hour truce, saying it could "open up a little bit of space to work on a more sustainable ceasefire." |
West Bank clashes | West Bank clashes |
According to the UN, Israeli air strikes killed a further 68 people in Gaza on Friday, bringing the total number of Palestinian dead to about 870. | According to the UN, Israeli air strikes killed a further 68 people in Gaza on Friday, bringing the total number of Palestinian dead to about 870. |
There were also clashes during protests in the West Bank which left at least five Palestinians dead. | There were also clashes during protests in the West Bank which left at least five Palestinians dead. |
Palestinians in the West Bank had been taking part in a "Day of Rage" against Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip. | Palestinians in the West Bank had been taking part in 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. | Meanwhile Israel's military said its Iron Dome defence system had intercepted several rockets fired across the border by Hamas. |
Later it said that two of its soldiers had been killed in Gaza during the night. | |
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. |
Several foreign ministers, including Mr Kerry, are due to hold a meeting in France on Saturday to seek a diplomatic solution. | Several foreign ministers, including Mr Kerry, are due to hold a meeting in France on Saturday to seek a diplomatic solution. |
"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. |
The foreign ministers of the EU, UK, Germany, Turkey and Qatar will also take part. | The foreign ministers of the EU, UK, Germany, Turkey and Qatar will also take part. |
Are you in the West Bank, Gaza or Israel? Are you affected by the violence? 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? Are you affected by the violence? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Israel Gaza'. |