Gaza ceasefire begins

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas meant to last at least three days has taken effect in the Gaza Strip.

The truce was agreed to by both sides in the month-long war. It started at 8am (6am Irish time) today.

During the 72-hour truce, Israel and Hamas are to hold indirect talks in Cairo on a broader deal that would prevent future cross-border violence.

Previous international attempts to broker a temporary halt in the fighting failed.

The Israeli military said all its ground troops will have pulled out of Gaza by the start of the new ceasefire.

The war has claimed nearly 1,900 Palestinian lives – most of them civilians. The war has also left 67 Israelis dead, all but three of them soldiers.