Fighting in Gaza abates, but truce hopes look fragile

GAZA/JERUSALEM: Fighting subsided in Gaza on Sunday after the Hamas movement said they backed a 24-hour humanitarian truce and US President Barack Obama called for a cease-fire but there was no sign of any comprehensive deal to end fighting with Israel. Hamas said it had endorsed a call by the United Nations for a pause in the fighting in light of the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Fitr, which begins on Monday. Some firing of rockets continued after the time that Hamas had announced it would put its guns aside and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu questioned the validity of the truce. On the other hand, Israel resumed its punishing air strikes and artillery guns also fired barrages into the Gaza Strip, as reported by Israeli media, although the objects of the fire was initially unclear. Palestinian medics said the barrage killed 11 people across the territory, including an elderly Christian woman. Another three people also succumbed to their wounds, raising the Palestinian toll on day 20 of Israel’s devastating military campaign to 1,031, Gaza’s emergency services said. Israel says 43 of its soldiers have died, along with three civilians killed by rocket and mortar fire out of the Mediterranean enclave. Obama spoke by phone on Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and stressed the need for an immediate, unconditional humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza, the White House said.