Israel temporarily halts fighting
2009-01-08 14:07
Jerusalem - Israel's military says it has halted its military action in Gaza for three hours to allow Gaza residents to stock up on supplies.
Israeli military official Peter Lerner said earlier that Thursday's lull in fighting will enable humanitarian groups to do their work. He says Israel will also send aid and fuel to Gaza.
Israel has been fighting in Gaza since December 27 in an attempt to crush Hamas militants. Air and artillery shelling has killed around 700 Gazans - half of them believed to be civilians.
It's the second time in two days that Israel has agreed to halt military action in Gaza amid growing international pressure to relieve civilian suffering in the strip.
UN aid officials, however, say three hours is not enough to relieve widespread food and water shortages in Gaza.
- AP