Israel-Palestinian ceasefire comes into effect

A ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip has come into effect.

The ceasefire began early on Friday, bringing to an end 11 days of fighting in which more than 250 people were killed, most of them in Gaza.

Palestinians poured on to the streets of Gaza soon after the truce began, while a Hamas official warned the group had not let down its guard.

Both Israel and Hamas have claimed victory in the conflict.

US President Joe Biden said the ceasefire brought a "genuine opportunity" for progress.

Soon after it started at 02:00 on Friday (23:00 GMT on Thursday), large numbers of Palestinians took to the streets in cars and on foot to celebrate. In Gaza, drivers honked their horns, while loudspeakers from mosques pronounced "the victory of the resistance".

Israel's military said it was removing nearly all emergency restrictions on movement throughout the country.

Fighting broke out on 10 May after weeks of rising Israeli-Palestinian tension in occupied East Jerusalem that culminated in clashes at a holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews. Hamas began firing rockets after warning Israel to withdraw from the site, triggering retaliatory air strikes.

At least 243 people, including more than 100 women and children, were killed in Gaza, according to its health ministry. Israel has said it killed at least 225 militants during the fighting. Hamas has not given casualty figures for fighters.

In Israel 12 people, including two children, were killed, its medical service says.

The Israeli military says more than 4,300 rockets were fired towards its territory by militants and that it struck more than 1,000 militant targets in Gaza.

How did the two sides announce the truce?

The Israeli Political Security Cabinet said on Thursday night it had "unanimously accepted the recommendation" for a ceasefire.

"The political leaders emphasised that the reality on the ground will determine the future of the campaign," it said.

One resident in Tel Aviv told Reuters news agency: "It's good that the conflict will end, but unfortunately I don't feel like we have much time before the next escalation."

A Hamas official told the Associated Press news agency the ceasefire announced by Israel amounted to a "victory" for the Palestinian people.

This view was shared by people celebrating on the streets of Gaza. "This is the day of victory, the day of freedom, and it is the most beautiful day that we've experienced," one said.

But Basem Naim, from the Hamas Council on International Relations, told the BBC he was sceptical about whether the truce would last "without justice for Palestinians, without stopping the Israeli aggression and Israeli atrocities".

A member of Hamas's political bureau, Izzat al-Reshiq, issued a warning to Israel.

"It's true that the battle ends today but [Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and the whole world should know that our finger is on the trigger and we will continue to ramp up the capabilities of this resistance," he told Reuters.

What position did Biden take?

US President Joe Biden commended Mr Netanyahu in a phone call after the ceasefire agreement was announced.

He said the US - Israel's closest and most important ally - fully supported the country's "right to defend itself against indiscriminate rocket attacks".

He also praised Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi for brokering the ceasefire, before turning to the human cost of the conflict.

"I send my sincere condolences to all the families, Israeli and Palestinian, who have lost loved ones and my hope for a full recovery for the wounded," he said.

The president said the US remained "committed to working with the United Nations" in providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza and in reconstruction efforts in the enclave. He added that this would be done "in full partnership" with the Palestinian Authority, which is run by Hamas rival Mahmoud Abbas and based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Egypt's president said he had received a phone call from Mr Biden with "utter happiness", adding that they had "exchanged visions around reaching a formula that would calm the current conflict between Israel and Gaza".

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also welcomed the ceasefire, but said both sides must now find a "durable solution" to the conflict.