Ceasefire between Hamas and Israel begins

 

A five-hour humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas has begun in the Gaza Strip after nine days of fighting.


The ceasefire, due to last until 15:00 local time, was requested by the UN and other international organisations.

The UN's relief operation in Gaza said it would use the temporary truce to step up emergency work in the Palestinian territory. Spokesman Chris Gunness said providing water, food and hygiene kits were the main priorities.

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A senior Israeli security official told the BBC the military would "respond and intercept immediately" if attacked during the ceasefire.

Just minutes before the truce began, an Israeli tank hit a house in southern Gaza, killing three people, the AFP news agency reports.

The Israeli military earlier confirmed it had carried out dozens of air strikes on targets in Gaza since midnight, while Palestinian militants continued to fire rockets at Israeli cities.

Several of the rockets were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome missile shield, with the rest striking without causing casualties.

 

 

On Wednesday relatives buried the first Israeli national killed by a Palestinian rocket during the conflict.

 

The Israeli military also said it had thwarted the infiltration into Israel by 13 Hamas gunmen via a tunnel from southern Gaza towards the southern Israeli kibbutz of Sufa on Thursday morning.

Army spokesman Lt Col Peter Lerner said the gunmen were 250 metres (820ft) inside Israel when they were intercepted by Israeli aircraft. He said at least one militant was believed killed and that the others escaped back into Gaza.

Reports in Israeli media say Hamas has presented a list of 10 prerequisites for a 10-year truce with Israel.

The demands reportedly include the easing of the economic blockade on Gaza and an end to Israeli strikes on the territory, as well as the construction of an airport and seaport.