Palestinians Agree to Ceasefire

2 children killed in UN school shelter: Palestinians

(NEWSER) - Israel launched 50 air strikes on Gaza last night ahead of a Cabinet vote on a unilateral ceasefire, the BBC reports. A tank shell hit a UN school, killing at least two children among hundreds of people who had taken refuge there, Palestinians say; Israel says it’s looking into the matter. A UN relief agency says Israel’s Gaza operations should face a war crimes probe. More»

(NEWSER) - Hamas says its negotiators have a reached a deal with Israel for a long-term Gaza truce, Reuters reports. A senior leader said the truce ensures the opening of all commercial crossings and will be announced over the weekend. The Egyptian-brokered pact would replace a tentative truce put in place last month after a 22-day Israeli offensive left 1,300 Palestinians dead. Israel, in the midst of election chaos, had no official comment. More»

Olmert promises to strike back after rocket attacks

(NEWSER) - Israel’s military intelligence chief says Hamas “is conducting serious soul-searching on its strategic mistakes and operational failures" in the wake of the Gaza war, the Jerusalem Post reports. Rival Palestinian groups “are challenging the organization and carrying out attacks in order to bring on another escalation,” he told the Israeli cabinet this morning. “Hamas is deterred and respecting the ceasefire, but not doing enough to discourage the others.” More»

Locals want to stop violence; exiled leaders say keep it up

(NEWSER) - Hamas is split over its next steps in the continuing bloodshed in Gaza. Local leaders want an end to the violence, while exiled bosses in Syria want to keep battling until all their conditions are met, the Economist reports. Outside leaders are putting pressure on Hamas, particularly its Syrian arm, to settle with Israel, which maintains the upper hand in fighting, though it's expected to declare a ceasefire soon. More»

(NEWSER) - Israel dropped leaflets on the Gaza strip today warning inhabitants of an escalation in the 2-week offensive against Hamas militants, the BBC reports. The leaflets assured civilians that the action was against “Hamas and the terrorists only” and urged people to stay away from military targets. The development could signal a deeper incursion by Israeli ground forces into Gazan cities and refugee camps, the BBC notes. More»