A three-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas which began at 6am on Tuesday appears to be holding.
Israel says it's withdrawn its ground forces from Gaza after achieving its main aim - to destroy tunnels dug by Hamas under the border. The Israel Army has been redeployed in defensive positions outside the Gaza Strip and we will maintain those defensive positions, according to Lt-Col Peter Lerner.
Talks on a longer truce will now be held in Egypt.
Hamas, like Israel has specific demands, according to the organisation's Sami Abu Zuhri, he said: "there will be indirect negotiations with the Egyptian mediatian. This negotiation will be based on the on the Paelstinain contitions which were given to the Egyptian Minister of Intelligence."
According to Jeremy Moodey, CEO, Embrace the Middle East, an interdenominational charity working with vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the region through Christian organisations, believes only a lasting peace will be achieved if Israel needs to end its blocade of Gaza.
He said,:"the reasons why previous truces have failed is because none of them addressed the underlying issue, which was the humanitarian crisis in Gaza; caused by 7 years of years of siege"
The four week conflict has killed 1800 Palestinians and 67 Israelis.
"The Israel Defence Forces will be redeployed in defensive positions outside the Gaza Strip and we will maintain those defensive positions," according to Lt-Col Peter Lerner.
Jeremy Moodey, CEO, Embrace the Middle East: