Rockets fired into Israel despite truce

Reports say militants in the Gaza Strip launched 12 rockets into southern Israel overnight Sunday — hours after the declaration of an informal truce.

The ceasefire, which began at 9pm Sunday night, comes on the back of five days of heavy fighting, in which 29 people were killed, including five Egyptian policemen.

One of the rockets damaged an empty building in the Eskol region near north-eastern Gaza, but police sources said there were no injuries.

Haaretz.com said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday called a special security cabinet meeting to discuss its response to the rocket fire.

It reported that Israel Defense Forces would likely refrain from responding, and instead allow more time for the implementation of the ceasefire by Gaza rulers Hamas.

Smaller militant groups in Gaza were reportedly responsible for most of the rockets fired at southern Israel in the past few days. According to the BBC, Hamas has agreed to ensure the truce is recognised by these insurgents.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity on Sunday, a Hamas official told Agence France-Presse that Palestinian factions had reached the truce agreement in talks brokered by Egypt.

We have reached an informal agreement to establish a ceasefire from tonight on condition that Israel halts its attacks.

The source said an official announcement would be made later Monday.

Clashes between Israel and Gaza began on Thursday when militants crossed into southern Israel and killed eight Israelis. Retaliatory Israeli air strikes on Gaza then killed 15 Palestinians. One Israeli was killed in rocket fire from Gaza.

The Quartet of Middle East peace mediators — the U.N., U.S., E.U. and Russia — has called for restraint.