Israel, Gaza militants agree on 'fragile' truce
Israel and militants in Gaza began observing an Egyptian-brokered truce yesterday after four days of violence, which officials on both sides warned could flare up again.
The ceasefire was holding after more than 72 hours of cross-border fighting in which 25 Gazans were killed, most of them militants, and 200 rockets were fired at Israel.
Under the deal, which came into force at 1:00 am (2300 GMT on Monday), both Israel and militants from Islamic Jihad, who were responsible for the lion's share of the rocket attacks, agreed to hold their fire.
More than 15 hours later, the nascent truce appeared to be largely holding.
Hoever, both parties were quick to warn, however, that the agreement would be short lived if the other side stepped out of line.
News of the agreement emerged early on Tuesday after Cairo brokered what an Egyptian intelligence official described as a "comprehensive and mutual" truce.
The current round of violence kicked off on Friday with Israel's assassination of the head of the radical Popular Resistance Committees (PRC).
The strike prompted militants to fire hundreds of rockets and mortar rounds into southern Israel, wounding people. In response, the air force carried out dozens of raids air, targeting militants and weapons facilities.
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