Hamas orders halt to suicide bombings

Hamas has ordered a halt to suicide bombings and mortar attacks on Israel.

A leaflet has been circulated by the group in Gaza. A senior member of the group in the West Bank says it wants to preserve Palestinian unity.

Hassan Youssef has confirmed that the organisation made the decision to stop the suicide bombings.

It follows a day of clashes in Gaza between Palestinian police and Hamas backers, as police tried to arrest a Hamas leader and stop a Hamas cell from firing mortars at Israeli targets.