Palestinians report Gaza truce with Israel as violence ebbs

A deadly surge in violence in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel petered out overnight and Palestinian officials reported that Egypt had mediated a truce early on Monday.

The latest round of fighting erupted three days ago, peaking on Sunday when rockets and missiles from Gaza reportedly killed four civilians in Israel, and Israeli strikes martyred 19 Palestinians, more than half of them civilians.

Two Palestinian officials and a TV station belonging to Hamas said a ceasefire had been reached at 0430 am (0130 GMT), apparently stopping the violence from broadening into a conflict which neither side seemed keen on fighting.

Israeli officials did not comment on whether a truce had been reached.

Egypt and the United Nations, who have served as brokers in the past, had been trying to mediate a truce.

The Gaza healthy ministry earlier said three Palestinians, including a baby, were martyred in Israeli strikes in northern Gaza on Sunday.

The ministry said in a statement the three were martyred and eight wounded as "Israeli occupation forces targeted the northern Gaza Strip".

The Israeli army said it had no comment on the claim.

 

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