Israel, Hamas broker a five hour-long ceasefire

After nine days of fighting, Israel and Hamas have reportedly agreed to observe a five-hour long ceasefire in Gaza in order to allow civilians to stock up on household supplies.

According to the BBC, Hamas spokesperson, Sami Abu Zukhri confirmed that a ceasefire would be observed between 07:00 hrs to 12:00 hrs GMT on Thursday.

The decision to hold fire comes on the heels of a statement release by the United Nations (UN) Security Council, calling for peace and ceasefire, the report added.

Meanwhile, four children, who were playing on a beach in Gaza city, were reportedly killed in Israeli attacks on Wednesday. An Israeli national who was killed in a Palestinian rocket attack was also laid to rest on the same day.

The offensive launched by Israel on July 9 on the Gaza strip has already claimed the lives of 220 civilians in Palestine. According to a UN estimate, about 1,370 homes have been destroyed in Gaza and more than 18,000 people have been displaced in the conflict.