Israel and the Palestinian Militant Group hamas have agreed an egyptian brokered ceasefire, which came into effect around 30 minutes ago. It brings to an end 11 days of conflict, in which 232 palestinians and i2 israelis have been killed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office says his Security Cabinet voted unanimously in favour of a Mutual And Unconditional gaza truce. But within minutes of the announcements, ahead of the ceasefire, the two sides were Trading Rockets and strikes. Paul adams has the background to the ceasefire agreement. Israels Security Cabinet met for several hours in the course of the evening. At the end of that meeting released a statement which it was said that they unanimously to an Egyptian Initiative to a bilateral ceasefire without preconditions. They went on to say that they had reviewed israels great achievements of the campaign, some of which it said were unprecedented. Hamas officials for their part quoted as saying they have secured guarantees from israel regarding the two Flashpoints Injerusalem that helped to trigger this crisis. The situation at Al Aqsa Mosque of the old city and also in the neighbourhood of sheikh jarrah. Israeli really officials are quoted as saying those claims are nonsense. They have offered no such guarantees. We understand that egyptian officials will be arriving in gaza and in israel fairly soon to discuss the fine print. And clearly those negotiations will be important. The bottom line is that the two sides have agreed to stop these exchanges that have been going on for 11 days. Even after the announcement from the israeli side, there were further air strikes on gaza and also salvos of rockets fired into israel. For a brief time, israels main airport was closed which i think is indicative of the sheer fragility of the situation at the moment. But the guns are going to fall silent. Of course, none of that addresses the fundamental underlying issues between israel and the palestinians. Unless those are addressed, it is a Racing Certainty that at some point in the future, we will be here again. Shortly after the confirmation of the ceasefire, President Joe Biden gave his reaction. Folks, ive just spoken with Prime Minister netanyahu. Earlier today, i spoke with president al sisi of egypt. Prime minister netanyahu informed me that israel has agreed to a Mutual Unconditional Ceasefire to begin in less than two hours. The egyptians have now informed us that hamas and the other groups in gaza have also agreed. In my conversation with president netanyahu, i commended him for the decision to bring the current hostilities to a close within less than 11 days. I also emphasise what ive said throughout this conflict, the United States fully supports israels right to defend itself against indiscriminate Rocket Attacks from hamas and other gaza based Terror Groups that have taken the lives of innocent civilians in israel. The Prime Minister also shared with me his appreciation for the Iron Dome System, which our nations develop together and which has saved lives of countless israeli citizens, both arab and jew. I assured him of my full support to replenish israels Iron Dome System to ensure its defences and security in the future. Over the last 11 days, i spoke with the Prime Minister six times. Ive also spoken with president abbas of the Palestinian Authority more than once as part of our intensive diplomatic engagement. And i also want to also thank the secretary of state, the secretary of defense and our National Security advisor and everyone on our team for their incredible efforts to bring this about, this outcome that were about to see. You know, weve held intensive high level discussions hour by hour, literally, egypt, the Palestinian Authority and other middle eastern countries, with an aim of avoiding the sort of prolonged conflict weve seen in previous years when the hostilities have broken out. I extend my sincere gratitude to president al sisi and the senior egyptian officials who played such a Critical Role in this diplomacy. I also appreciate the contributions of other parties in the region who have been engaged in working toward the end of hostilities. These hostilities have resulted in the tragic deaths of so many civilians, including children. And 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. The United States committed to working with the United Nations, and we remain committed to working with the United Nations and other International Stakeholders to provide rapid humanitarian assistance and to Marshal International support for the people of gaza and the gaza reconstruction efforts. We will do this in full partnership with the Palestinian Authority not hamas, the authority in a manner that does not permit hamas to simply restock its military arsenal. I believe the palestinians and israelis equally deserve to live safely and securely and to enjoy equal measure of prosperity, freedom and democracy. My administration will continue our quiet, relentless diplomacy toward that end. I believe we have a genuine opportunity to make progress, and im committed to working for it. And i want to thank you all, and may god bless you all and pray that this continues. Thank you so much. So that was President Biden reacting and formally agreeing and announcing the cease fire with israel and hamas. With me is our reporter courtney bembridge, who has been monitoring the International Reaction to the ceasfire. Courtney, we heard from President Biden there. Who else has responded to the development . That is right. President by the city and contacted benjamin that Yahoo Six Times in the last 11 days. He also said he is looking to the Palestinian Authority leader so he was keen to play up the us role in this and we heard that there were he talked about that the us a play day and night he said. He also praised egypt for its role in brokering this truth of course and also in the last couple of hours we have heard from the uk foreign secretary dominic rabb and that we can bring up a tweet he sent a couple of hours ago saying. So that was from dominic raab. Weve also had mixed responses from Inside Israel and right wing politicians they unhappy with the trees. We have also heard from the mayor of a southern town who basically said that israel was concentrating on the nation as a whole but leaving these southern towns hanging out to dry basically. Leaving them to deal with the impact of this conflict and not doing anything really to address hamas. And thatis really to address hamas. And that is one town mayor has come out and said that in the past couple of hours. Weve also heard from people on the streets in tel aviv which you can have a listen to now. The ceasefires good for humanitarian reasons, to let civilians relax a little bit on both sides. Im sceptical, though, that itll really be kept for a while. I dont think israel has achieved much. I mean, there are no, anything, no agreements about the future, nothing. But i guess its good to have a bit of a break. Its, like, bittersweet. Like, its good that i the conflict will end, but unfortunately i dont feel like we have much time for. The next escalation if anything significant will change. The ceasefire wont last eight hours. They will start shooting us rockets again. We talk about reaction and we heard there was not much hope for the cease fire, when we look back to the weekend and the human summit that emergency summit called on sunday, there was a lot of talk about the two State Solution. Has that been mentioned much today . Is there an appetite for that still . We have not an appetite for that still . Have not heard a lot about that since the cease fire was announced and confirmed. But there is certainly a lot of aggression saying this is a Band Aid Solution and it does not go far enough and that a longer Term Solution needs to be organised. One for diplomat, us of a mat, said this is a short term, we will be at this conflict again and again as we have seen over the previous decades that there needs to be a longer Term Solution here are but we are back in the situation and many people will be caught up in the conflict. Thank you very much, courtney. A hamas spokesman spoke to reporters after the truth was agreed and this is what he said. Translation ,. ,. Translation the resistance will be committed translation the resistance will be committed if translation the resistance will be committed if the will be committed if the Zionist Regime is committed. We fought in the war to defend the mosque and jerusalem. We have a callous mess. We are monitoring the situation in the field. We will be committed as long as the israelis are committed to the israelis are committed to the e file dear. We arejoined by daniel we are joined by daniel leavy who said this earlier. We seem to have lost that for now. But we did speak to our correspondent in gaza. This is what he said. Its correspondent in gaza. This is what he said. What he said. Its been a lot of work going what he said. Its been a lot of work going on what he said. Its been a lot of work going on behind what he said. Its been a lot of work going on behind the scenes of work going on behind the scenes. Egypt, qatar, many arab countries. Scenes. Egypt, qatar, many arab countries, the americans and europeans were working day and night europeans were working day and night close with the Palestinian Authority, with hamas Palestinian Authority, with hamas and with israel to broker the cease fire and in the fighting. Some scenes ofjoy and even fighting. Some scenes ofjoy and even celebration started in gaza and even celebration started in gaza as and even celebration started in gaza as hamas, the militant group gaza as hamas, the militant group who fired more than 4000 Rockets Group who fired more than 4000 rockets toward israel, is claiming victory. The spokesman for the claiming victory. The spokesman for the Hamas Armed Wing was appearing on the hamas tv and was say appearing on the hamas tv and was say that we won this battle~ was say that we won this battle. In the is release were defeated, as he was addressing the Palestinian People in gaza and everywhere after this. Although until now the fighting, some sort of fighting is still fighting, some sort of fighting is still going on as hamas and fired is still going on as hamas and fired rockets even before the announcement and after the announcement, sorry, of the ceasefire announcement, sorry, of the cease fire and israel carried out a cease fire and israel carried out a couple of air strikes in the out a couple of air strikes in the north out a couple of air strikes in the north and the south of gaza strip~ the north and the south of gaza strip the the north and the south of gaza strip. The casualties in this fighting strip. The casualties in this fighting. But we hope that this will end fighting. But we hope that this will end soon and people here hope will end soon and people here hope that this will end soon. A hope that this will end soon. Senior Consultant Research fellow from the middle east and north Africa Programme at Chatham House and he gave us this reaction to the cease fire. 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That the Palestinian Question how that the Palestinian Question how has that the Palestinian Question now has been that the Palestinian Question now has been put that the Palestinian Question now has been put on that the Palestinian Question now has been put on the now has been put on the natiohai now has been put on the national agenda, now has been put on the national agenda, on now has been put on the national agenda, on the| national agenda, on the International National agenda, on the international agenda,. National agenda, on the international agenda, which israei international agenda, which israel wanted international agenda, which israel wanted to international agenda, which israel wanted to dismiss,. International agenda, which| israel wanted to dismiss, to put away israel wanted to dismiss, to put away. So israel wanted to dismiss, to put away. So this israel wanted to dismiss, to put away. So this is israel wanted to dismiss, to put away. 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So it really boosted its credibility and internal palestinian politics and it hit israel pretty hard. This was a serious barrage of rockets over the last 11 days. And from the israeli side, i think that the military there thought they significantly degraded hamas capabilities. Of course we have been through this four times already and this is a vicious cycle, so its hard to know the reality of that. But politically, netanyahu scored a victory for himself here because he is still in the running to remain Prime Minister of israel. So i think both sides can claim they gain sipping from this. Unfortunately the people, as usual, lose out on this. It was a horrific humanitarian conflict, a tremendous loss of his life on the ground. Haifa his life on the ground. Now daniel leavy his life on the ground. Now daniel leavy is his life on the ground. Now daniel leavy is president i his life on the ground. Now daniel leavy is president of the Us Middle East project and formerly a Senior Adviser in the Prime Minister office of israel. This is what he said tonight. Israel. This is what he said toniaht. ,. , tonight. Neither side has really anywhere tonight. Neither side has really anywhere to tonight. Neither side has really anywhere to go. I tonight. Neither side has i really anywhere to go. Does israei really anywhere to go. Does israel intend to reoccupy and the Regime Change in gaza and hamas the Regime Change in gaza and hamas was putting the issue itack hamas was putting the issue Back On Hamas was putting the issue back on the agenda, able to gain back on the agenda, able to gain some real residents amongst palestinians and to remind amongst palestinians and to remind the world that gaza is a blockheaded place. If you put that together with both sides who have their Victory Narratives in place, they have been narratives in place, they have been building those for several days, been building those for several days, and been building those for several days, and you saw the us began to lose days, and you saw the us began to lose patience with the israeii to lose patience with the israeli side and to begin to do so publicly. Israeli side and to begin to do so publicly so publicly. And now Chris Gunness so publicly. And now Chris Gunness a so publicly. And now Chris Gunness a former so publicly. And now chris i gunness a former spokesman so publicly. And now Chris Gunness a former spokesman for the un relief and works agency for Palestine Refugees and is now a writer and broadcaster and he also witnessed several of the cease fires first hand in the region. Of the ceasefires firsthand in the region. In the region. This is the fourth ceasefire in the region. 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So i think the cease fire will i think the cease fire will ultimately i think the cease fire will ultimately hold i think the cease fire will ultimately hold but i think the cease fire will ultimately hold but there i i think the cease fire will ultimately hold but there have to be ultimately hold but there have to be attempts ultimately hold but there have to be attempts to ultimately hold but there have to be attempts to address ultimately hold but there have to be attempts to address the | to be attempts to address the underlying to be attempts to address the underlying causes to be attempts to address the underlying causes and to be attempts to address the underlying causes and not to be attempts to address the | underlying causes and notjust the blockade underlying causes and notjust the blockade but underlying causes and notjust the blockade but also underlying causes and notjust the blockade but also the the blockade but also the occurwation the blockade but also the occupation of the blockade but also the occupation of palestine. 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We have to get rid of the need for terrorist i rid of the need for Terrorist Infrastructure rid of the need for Terrorist Infrastructure and rid of the need for Terrorist Infrastructure and that rid of the need for terrorist. Infrastructure and that means addressing infrastructure and that means addressing the infrastructure and that means addressing the long term infrastructure and that means i addressing the long term issues of gaza addressing the long term issues of gaza trite addressing the longterm issues of gaza. ~. , addressing the longterm issues of gaza. ~. , addressing the longterm issues of gaza. ~. ,. ,. , addressing the longterm issues ofgaza. ,. ,. , of gaza. We are going to show ou of gaza. We are going to show you some of gaza. We are going to show you some live of gaza. We are going to show you some live pictures of gaza. We are going to show| you some live pictures actually coming to us from the streets of gaza. You can see there that traffic is back on the street during the night time. A very rare sight over the last 11 days of course as many of the air strikes coming from israel have taken place at night. You can see some cars there with the flags waving from the windows. Itsjust the flags waving from the windows. Its just seeing people on the streets of gaza city itself is fairly significant. So to remind you what it is they are celebrating. And it is the cease fire that was brokered by egypt. Delhi also involved in that but many led by egypt, the best qualified as it is very rare that both sides will speak to a mediator. But that was their role, and the cease fire was announced a few hours ago, described as unconditional, without preconditions. Benjamin netanyahus office said. To take effect at a time to be determined and we learned later that that was at 2am local time. So it is currently in effect as you can see on your screens. Alsojust effect as you can see on your screens. Also just hamas was involved in this. They were two main Palestinian Armed groups that have been involved in this violence, in this conflict and it was hamas and also islamic jihad. So lets discuss this further. Dan arbell is scholar in residence at the American University in washington. Hes a 25 year veteran of the Israeli Foreign service, holding posts at the United Nations and the us, as well as senior positions at the ministry of Foreign Affairs injerusalem. Hes in washington now. Thank you forjoining us on bbc news. My first question is just to get your reaction to the cease fire that has been a great and that is now in force. I think its in it significant step. Its an step, stopping the fighting between the two sides, reaching a call and i think for the short term its an excellent and important move. However it will be tested over time. As it is very fragile, very sensitive. After days of severe fighting, a barrage of rockets from gaza into israel, after israeli attacks into gaza with casualties, disruption on both sides, i think its time to move forward but a lot will depend on implementation of this cease fire and whether especially hamas will abide by the cease fire reached. I the cease fire reached. I wonder if you can adjust and i am looking now at what President Biden said earlier today. And he commanded Prime Minister netanyahu in being able to bring the violence to a close. Replenishing the iron dome. Just how close are those ties between the United States and israel . L115 ties between the United States and israel . And israel . Us Israel Relations to back and israel . Us Israel Relations go back decades. And israel . Us Israel Relations go back decades. They and israel . Us Israel Relations go back decades. They are and israel . Us Israel Relations| go back decades. They are very strong, very solid. There is wide cooperation in many areas, security, economic, strategic issues, intelligence sharing but also trade and culture and other areas. And i think that this relationship has been strong over the years with every president and every Prime Minister in israel. There have been times when the two sides, two countries were not always in agreement but they always knew how agree to disagree but not rock the boat too much. And relations remain strong and solid and cooperation remains steady today as well. President biden also steady today as well. President biden also spoke steady today as well. President biden also spoke of steady today as well. President biden also spoke of work steady today as well. President biden also spoke of work that l biden also spoke of work that needs to be done with the Palestinian Authority with rebuilding and Unitarian Aid Thatis rebuilding and unitarian aid that is needed. What role have they played in this . They played in this . Perhaps ou they played in this . Perhaps you mean they played in this . Perhaps you mean the they played in this . Perhaps you mean the plo they played in this . Perhaps you mean the plo or they played in this . Perhaps you mean the plo or the you mean the plo or the Palestinian Authority. It is important to note hamas started this fight to my hamas started shooting rockets at israel. Israel responded and has every right to defend it sell. Hamas cannot be part of the equation and i think President Biden recognises that and is conveying a message that is important and he is trying to strengthen the moderates in the palestinian camp. The palestinian camp. The Palestinian Authority. Though i think its a good step in which the us, together with the un and with the Palestinian Authority and other members of the international community, work to alleviate the suffering of ordinary people in gaza who live under the oppression of hamas. I think its very important and his comments did not were a step in the right direction. That will require a lot of work and it wont be easy. When you still have hamas around, governing the gaza strip and using methods of oppression and violence, but this is an opportunity perhaps to try and strengthen the Palestinian Authority, give it a roll and perhaps advanced and better the lives of ordinary people in gaza. Better the lives of ordinary people in gaza. How do you think this people in gaza. How do you think this was people in gaza. How do you think this was agreed . People in gaza. How do you | think this was agreed . What changed about the conflict that both sides said, ok, we are both sides said, ok, we are both ready for a cease fire now . What happened with matt i think that after. I now . What happened with matt i think that after. Think that after. I think after 11 think that after. I think after 11 days think that after. I think after 11 days of think that after. I think after 11 days of fighting l think that after. I think i after 11 days of fighting both sides were looking at it and realising that perhaps they could go on for another few weeks but the time had come to stop. I think what played a role beyond the Party Considerations was International Pressure which was mounting to bring an end to this. And i think that the international community, the us vis a vis israel and egypt, qatar working to influence hamas, to bring this to an end. I think it was a nomadic pressure but also a realisation on both sides that they wont get much out of this continue fighting for very long. I get much out of this continue fighting for very long. Fighting for very long. I have to interrupt fighting for very long. I have to interrupt quickly fighting for very long. I have to interrupt quickly but fighting for very long. I have to interrupt quickly but i fighting for very long. I have l to interrupt quickly but i want to interrupt quickly but i want to get the next question three. The Security Council meeting on sunday, they were at saint it is notjust sunday, they were at saint it is not just a sunday, they were at saint it is notjust a cease fire but we have to go back to that two State Solution. So many ambassadors brought that up. Is that what is next . Realistically, if theyre still political appetite and will for that . ,. , political appetite and will for that . ,. , that . On both sides and in israel and that . On both sides and in israel and the that . On both sides and in israel and the policy that . On both sides and in israel and the policy and i israel and the policy and authority, there has not been great appetite for it. But i think there is an opportunity. It is up to the leaders and up to the constituencies and up to the political deciduous ease on each side. The us has been committed to the two State Solution and both sides, at israeli and palestinian are analytical limbo and they have to go through cycles of elections and the palestinians have postponed their legends and making it hard. I have postponed their legends and making it hard. I apologise that we have and making it hard. I apologise that we have about and making it hard. I apologise that we have about ten and making it hard. I apologise| that we have about ten seconds on the programme. Thank you very much indeed. You are watching bbc news. Hello again. Thursday brought us an unusually deep area of low pressure for the time of year. It brought some very powerful looking seas to the coastline of newquay in cornwall. There, look at the pretty impressive waves battering the coastline here. And the strongest winds were around the coasts of South West England and wales. The strongest gusts were well into the 60s to low 705 of miles an hour, peaking with a gust of 73 mph in Pembrey Sands in south wales. And of course it was pretty wet as well. The wettest weather is across this central swathe of the uk. 36 mm for north wales. But in sharp contrast to that, it was mainly dry across north west scotland, and there was barely a drop of rain across the south east. The rain will continue to be variable on into friday thanks to our familiar slow moving friend, our area of low pressure here. So, weve got rain at the moment. The rains getting heavier, the winds a bit stronger across eastern scotland. But for many of us, it will stay pretty blustery over the next few hours with those strong Gale Force Gusts of wind pummeling the coasts and the hills. More rain to come as well. But its not too cold as we head into friday morning. Now, the wettest weather through the day will be across wales, northern england, eastern scotland. The rain not amounting to much for north west scotland. It will ease off in Northern Ireland, and there probably wont be that much in the south east. But the winds will be very strong, gusting to 50 60 mph around those English Channel coasts, perhaps 70 mph gusts somewhere like the needles, the west coast of the isle of wight. And those temperatures disappointing, just 13 in london. Well, it should be about 19 at this time of year. Saturday brighter, but therell be some showers around, some of them heavy and thundery. Sunday sees a return of more wet weather pushing in from the west. It will also be quite windy. So, saturdays weather first of all. Might be some rain there or thereabouts in the south. Certainly quite a few showers across eastern areas as we start the day. The best of any brighter weather probably developing across northern and Western Areas of the uk as we go through the afternoon. And those temperatures still pretty disappointing. 12 in glasgow, should be about 16 at this time of year. And sunday, bright start with some sunshine. This band of rain is going to move in from the west with strengthening winds followed by showers in Northern Ireland later in the day. Well, some of those could be pretty heavy as well. And those temperatures, 11 12 degrees celsius, really poor for this stage of may. And even into next week, therell be showers around. Youre watching bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. Im tim willcox a ceasefire between israel and the Palestinian Militants appearas to be holding. This is the scene live in gaza city. People out on the streets late into the night. It is the second hour now since the ceasefire. President bidens among World Leaders to welcome the egyptian brokered deal. He says the us will help replenish israels Missile Defences and promises aid for gaza. In other news Prince William launches a scathing attack on the bbc after an inquiry heavily criticises the broadcaster over its famous interview with princess diana. It brings indescribable sadness to know that the bbc public failures contributed