GAZA (Reuters) - Hundreds of embattled Palestinians ventured outside to shop for food on Wednesday during a three-hour Gaza truce, a first step toward an Egyptian-proposed ceasefire under discussion by Israel and Hamas. "Food and milk -- what else can we hope for in three hours," said Ahmed Abu Kamel, a father of six who lives near the city of Gaza. "We want it all to end." Violence resumed in the area soon after the 1 p.m.-4 p.m. truce expired, and Palestinians returned to the precarious safety of their home after stocking up on food and visiting family and friends. Israel said it would cease attacks in the Gaza Strip during those hours every day to ease the flow of aid to the Hamas-run territory's 1.5 million residents.
GAZA (Reuters) - Hundreds of embattled Palestinians ventured outside to shop for food on Wednesday during a three-hour Gaza truce, a first step toward an Egyptian-proposed ceasefire under discussion by Israel and Hamas.
"Food and milk -- what else can we hope for in three hours," said Ahmed Abu Kamel, a father of six who lives near the city of Gaza. "We want it all to end."
Violence resumed in the area soon after the 1 p.m.-4 p.m. truce expired, and Palestinians returned to the precarious safety of their home after stocking up on food and visiting family and friends.
Israel said it would cease attacks in the Gaza Strip during those hours every day to ease the flow of aid to the Hamas-run territory's 1.5 million residents.
Israel today gave a guarded welcome to a French and Egyptian plan to end the fighting in Gaza, as clashes between Israeli forces and Hamas resumed after a three-hour truce to allow humanitarian aid to reach trapped civilians.Hundreds of people took to the streets of the Palestinian territory during the hiatus to shop and visit relatives, despite reports of continued exchanges of fire in the northern Gaza Strip.
Israel today gave a guarded welcome to a French and Egyptian plan to end the fighting in Gaza, as clashes between Israeli forces and Hamas resumed after a three-hour truce to allow humanitarian aid to reach trapped civilians.
Hundreds of people took to the streets of the Palestinian territory during the hiatus to shop and visit relatives, despite reports of continued exchanges of fire in the northern Gaza Strip.
Clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian gunmen resumed in the city of Gaza this afternoon after the expiration of a three-hour truce to allow in humanitarian aid, residents said. Residents of the northern Gaza Strip had reported exchanges of fire between Israeli soldiers and Hamas militants during the temporary truce period. In the city of Gaza, hundreds had taken to the streets during the hiatus, shopping and visiting relatives. Meanwhile both sides said they were studying an Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire. This came as international pressure mounted against Israel over its12-day-old assault following the deaths of 42 Palestinians at a UN school in the coastal enclave
Clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian gunmen resumed in the city of Gaza this afternoon after the expiration of a three-hour truce to allow in humanitarian aid, residents said.
Residents of the northern Gaza Strip had reported exchanges of fire between Israeli soldiers and Hamas militants during the temporary truce period. In the city of Gaza, hundreds had taken to the streets during the hiatus, shopping and visiting relatives.
Meanwhile both sides said they were studying an Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire. This came as international pressure mounted against Israel over its12-day-old assault following the deaths of 42 Palestinians at a UN school in the coastal enclave
Israel has agreed "on the principles" of a ceasefire proposal, raising hopes of an end to its conflict with Palestinian militants in Gaza. "The challenge now is to get the details to match the principles," Israeli spokesman Mark Regev said. The Palestinian militant group Hamas said there were "positive signs but no agreement yet". The development came as Israel halted military operations in Gaza for three hours to aid humanitarian efforts.
Israel has agreed "on the principles" of a ceasefire proposal, raising hopes of an end to its conflict with Palestinian militants in Gaza.
"The challenge now is to get the details to match the principles," Israeli spokesman Mark Regev said.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas said there were "positive signs but no agreement yet".
The development came as Israel halted military operations in Gaza for three hours to aid humanitarian efforts.
