Israel and Hamas agree Gaza ceasefire to conflict which has killed more than 2,200 people
ISRAEL and Hamas have tonight agreed to a long-term ceasefire in Gaza after seven weeks of fighting which has left more than 2,200 people dead.
The truce was brokered by the Egyptian government and came into effect at 4pm GMT but violence between the two sides persisted until the last minute.
In Israel mortar shells fired from Gaza killed one man and seriously wounded two people.
While officials in Gaza said at least six Palestinians were killed today in a series of airstrikes in the region.
The ceasefire comes after almost two months of fighting which has left at least 2,138 Palestinians, many of them civilians, dead in Gaza.
Violence between Israel and Hamas persisted until the start of the ceasefire
Israeli authorities said 64 of their army's soldiers have been killed along with three civilians and a Thai national during the fighting.
Celebratory gunfire was heard in Gaza when the ceasefire began while chants normally heard on Muslim holidays were played from mosque loudspeakers.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri declared the truce as a "victory" for Gaza.
Speaking at news conference at Gaza's Shifa Hospital, he said: "We are here today to declare the victory of the resistance, the victory of Gaza, with the help of God, and the steadfastness of our people and the noble resistance."
Meanwhile an Israeli official said they would ease its blockade of Gaza to allow humanitarian and construction materials to enter the territory.
He said indirect talks on more substantial issues would begin in Cairo within a month.
Issues are expected to include Hamas' demand for an end to the blockade and Israel's calls for Hamas to disarm.
Gaza Bombs
The details of the cease-fire would effectively mean Hamas settled for terms similar to those that ended more than a week of fighting with Israel in 2012.
Under those terms, Israel promised to ease restrictions gradually, while Hamas pledged to halt rocket fire from Gaza at Israel.