Middle East leaders make truce pledge

Rocket fire from the Gaza Strip at Israel died down today after a ceasefire, giving hope the truce might end five months of bloody destruction and open a path towards peace talks.

The surprise truce came into effect at 6am local time (4am Irish time). Four hours later, 11 more rockets had been fired from Gaza at Israeli towns and villages, but Israel pledged restraint, and the two main parts of the Palestinian government, rivals Hamas and Fatah, publicly backed the truce.