Ceasefire takes effect after three days of violence in Gaza

Palestinians inspect their house after it was hit by an Israeli airs trike in Gaza (Fatima Shbair/AP)

A ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants has taken effect in a bid to end nearly three days of violence that has killed dozens of Palestinians.

Egyptian officials had worked to bring the sides to an agreement after the flare-up of fighting that saw Israeli aircraft pound targets in Gaza and militants fire hundreds of rockets that reached deep into Israel.