8 Jan 2009

Gaza city fighting resumes

7:19 am on 8 January 2009

Fighting in Gaza City has resumed after a brief truce to allow deliveries of humanitarian aid.

There was no fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters from 1pm-4pm (1100 GMT-1400 GMT) on Wednesday.

It was the first of what an Israeli spokesman said would be a daily ceasefire to allow people in Gaza to get medical attention and supplies.

Hamas said it would not launch any missiles at Israeli targets during the lull.

Israel and Hamas are under pressure to accept a diplomatic solution to the conflict, which began on 27 December.

Israel wants to stop rocket attacks on southern Israel and the smuggling of weapons into Gaza via Egypt.

Hamas says any ceasefire deal must include an end to an Israeli blockade of Gaza.

There are reports of diplomatic progress towards a proposal to stop the fighting.

French-Egyptian proposal

The BBC reports little official detail has been given about a French-Egyptian proposal, which is backed by the US and UN.

Israeli officials said on Wednesday they accepted the "principles" of the proposal, but the details needed to be worked out.

In a statement earlier, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France welcomed "the acceptance by Israel and the Palestinian Authority" of a truce plan. The statement did not mention Hamas.

Israel began attacks on Gaza on 27 December after Hamas ended a ceasefire on 19 December. Ground forces entered the Gaza strip on 3 January.

Aid agencies say a humanitarian crisis is mounting for 1.5 million Palestinians, who are unable to escape the conflict.