Five-hour ceasefire between Israel and Gaza holds, may lead to more
But confusion reigns on whether more lasting end to Palestinian-Israeli clash will begin today
Gaza residents rushed to banks, vegetable markets and shops yesterday during a first UN-brokered lull in 10 days of Israel-Hamas fighting, but a quick resumption in hostilities after it ended signaled that a permanent truce remains elusive.
Hamas fired 10 rockets at Israel after the end of the temporary truce, while Israel launched two airstrikes at the Gaza Strip, security officials said.
An official said senior Israeli negotiators in Cairo had approved a full truce to end 10 days of warfare but a final decision lay with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said he had spoken with Netanyahu and added: "We are not familiar with the matter."
A spokesman for the Islamist Hamas rulers of Gaza denied initial comments by the Israeli official that a full ceasefire was slated to start this morning.
The Israeli military said a rocket struck Ashkelon at precisely 3pm, when the five-hour pause in military activity officially ended. The truce was called for by the United Nations to allow civilians to resupply provisions.
Witnesses said Israeli warplanes struck an open area in northern Gaza in the first airstrike since the end of a fragile five-hour truce. The strike in Beit Lahiya hit an open area, causing no injuries.
