Israel agrees to Gaza truce with less enthusiasm

"It is our sincere hope that as of Thursday the population of southern Israel will no longer be victims of the constant rocket and mortar attacks by terrorists from the Gaza Strip," Regev told AFP.        

In recent weeks, Israeli officials have warned repeatedly that while they hope a ceasefire can be achieved, the military stands ready to launch a major ground offensive should it fail.         Israel maintained that cautious tone today.        

An envoy of Defence Minister Ehud Barak underlined after returning from talks with the Egyptian mediators late yesterday that the two sides had reached "understandings with Egypt" rather than a formal accord.        

Speaking on public radio, the envoy, Amos Gilad, stressed that if anyone opens fire from the Gaza Strip, "it will be a violation of the understandings."        

President Shimon Peres was more upbeat, saying: "We could be surprised favourably," but adding: "We have to wait and see."        

Egyptian negotiators said yesterday that after months of negotiations aimed at halting bloodshed in and around the impoverished Palestinian territory they had secured the agreement of both Israel and the Islamist Hamas group which has controlled Gaza since June last year.