A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has begun, despite a last-minute flurry of cross-border attacks, reports BBC.
The truce is designed to halt Israeli incursions into the Gaza Strip, and to stop missiles being fired from Gaza into southern Israel.
If it holds, Israel will ease its blockade on Gaza and there may be further talks on a prisoner exchange.
Correspondents say the eve-of-truce attacks underline how fragile the agreement could be.
There were no reports of fire from either side on Thursday morning.
Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group which controls Gaza, said it was confident all militants would abide by the Egypt-brokered truce, which is supposed to last six months.
Since the last ceasefire collapsed in April 2007, about 600 Palestinians and 18 Israelis have been killed in fighting between the two sides.
Speaking on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the truce would be fragile and could be short-lived.
He said Israel would abide by the ceasefire, but its armed forces were ready to act if cross-border rocket attacks continued.
"We should not have illusions. The terror organisations, and Hamas among them, have not changed their goals," he said.
Hamas's leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniya, said the truce would "bring stability to Israel if they commit themselves to it".
