Gaza: Israel has launched air strikes in the Gaza Strip after a rocket attack near Tel Aviv wounded seven people, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cut short a visit to the United States.
Hamas media said the Israeli airstrike had destroyed the office of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire brokered by Egypt, a senior Palestinian official told Reuters.
The official, who was familiar with the Egyptian mediation but who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the truce went into effect at 10pm local time.
“An agreement on a ceasefire was reached between Palestinian factions and Israel upon Egyptian mediation,” the official said.
Hamas TV also reported that a ceasefire agreement had been reached.
Netanyahu had threatened strong retaliation for the long-range rocket salvo amid accusations from opponents in a closely contested election, two weeks away, that he has been showing weakness in the face of security challenges from Gaza militants.
“The Israel Defence Forces have begun striking Hamas terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip,” the military said in a statement on Monday.
Read the article by Nidal al-Mughrabi in The Sydney Morning Herald (Reuters).