Israel and Hamas ceasefire begins
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has begun, despite a last-minute flurry of cross-border attacks.
The truce is designed to halt Israeli incursions into the Gaza Strip, and to stop missiles being fired from Gaza into southern Israel.
If it holds, Israel will ease its blockade on Gaza and there may be further talks on a prisoner exchange.
Correspondents say the eve-of-truce attacks underline how fragile the agreement could be.
There were no reports of fire from either side on Thursday morning.
Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group which controls Gaza, said it was confident all militants would abide by the Egypt-brokered truce, which is supposed to last six months.
Since the last ceasefire collapsed in April 2007, about 600 Palestinians and 18 Israelis have been killed in fighting between the two sides.
06/19/08 - more at BBC
