Israel and Hamas agree immediate Gaza ceasefire

Israel and Hamas have agreed a ceasefire to come into effect in Gaza from early Wednesday evening. The news was announced at a joint news conference in Cairo between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the Egyptian foreign minister Mohammed Kamel Amr. Egypt has played a key diplomatic role and is expected to monitor the deal. Talks have also involved the UN, the Arab League, Qatar and Turkey. After a week of cross-border bombardment, both sides will stop firing at each other, and border crossings from Gaza into Israel should re-open. But it is thought the Israeli blockade of Gaza will continue.