Sunday, January 18, 2009, 10:51am
Israel has begun a unilateral ceasefire in Gaza, three weeks after launching a full-scale assault against Hamas. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel had achieved its goals and Hamas - which has been firing rockets at Israel - had been defeated. But hours later, five rockets fell near the Israeli border town of Sderot, and there was a brief exchange of fire. Israel said its troops would remain in Gaza for now. Hamas said it would not accept one Israeli soldier in Gaza. Nearly 1,200 Palestinians have been killed since the violence began on 27 December. Thirteen Israelis have died.