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Israel and Hamas have appeared to agree to an unofficial ceasefire after 60 missiles and mortars were fired from Gaza into Israel.

The missiles and mortars were fired at southern Israel on Monday evening and throughout the night, with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) responding with multiple airstrikes on military targets in Gaza.

The exchange of fire began early on Monday after seven British-Israelis were wounded near Tel Aviv when a house was destroyed by a missile attack. Approximately 12 hours later the IDF carried out a wave of retaliatory strikes, targeting Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad military compounds in the north of Gaza, including what the IDF called “secret headquarters” used by Hamas’s internal security, central intelligence and military intelligence services. Hamas reported that seven people were injured during the airstrikes.

The IDF also hit the offices of Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh. Shortly after the Israeli response, Hamas launched 30 missiles towards Sderot, Eshkol, Sha’ar Hanegev and the Central Negev regions of southern Israel, before announcing that it had accepted an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreement with Israel, which began at 22:00.  The IDF said a further 30 missiles and mortars were launched from Gaza between 22:00 and 03:15.

The Iron Dome missile defence system intercepted several of the incoming missiles, while most of the mortars fell in open areas, the army said. There were no injuries in the attacks, though a home in the southern town of Sderot was hit by shrapnel during one barrage.

The IDF then bombed 15 targets in Gaza, in Khan Younis, Deir el-Balah, Rafah, Gaza City, al-Shati and Beit Hanoun in return. The latest strike was at 04:30 local time.

This morning, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan told Israeli army radio: “We will continue to exact a very heavy price from Hamas for its attacks on Israeli citizens, and that’s why all rumours and heresay of a cease-fire are incorrect.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short his visit to the US to return to Israel. Before departing at 02:00 Israeli time, he said: “We gave a very powerful response. Hamas needs to know that we won’t hesitate to go in [to Gaza] and take any required steps.”

Aljazeera reported this morning that Egyptian officials are in talks with Gaza factions and the Israeli Government to establish a ceasefire.