Leaders of Palestinian Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, said this evening that Egypt had brokered a ceasefire to end the latest escalation of conflict with Israel.
Hamas media reported that the ceasefire came into effect tonight at 22pm local time (21pm CET).
There was no immediate Israeli reaction, but the Israeli media reported it.
The ceasefire was announced after extremists from the Gaza Strip fired at least ten rockets at Israel after an Israeli airstrike destroyed the office of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, AP reported.
Missile warning sirens sounded across southern Israel.
Israeli media reported that rockets were fired toward the city of Sderot late this evening, and there were no immediate reports of possible casualties.
The latest escalation of violence began early this morning when a rocket fired from Gaza hit a house in central Israel, north of Tel Aviv, wounding seven people.
Israel has threatened to respond with force, raising fears of a fourth war between Israel and the Islamic Hamas.
The attack on the office of the Hamas leader was first reported by the organization's radio station, and the Israeli army later confirmed it. There were no reports of casualties.
Before the strike, the Israeli army fired warning shots, a tactic used by Israel to evacuate people from buildings. Haniyeh's offices were used for many extremist meetings, the Israeli military said.
Israeli forces attacked targets across the Gaza Strip earlier today in response to a surprise rocket attack this morning from the Palestinian territory that wounded seven people in central Israel.
Several airstrikes were heard in the strip, including a powerful explosion that brought down a high-rise building in Gaza City. Israel said the building served as the headquarters of Hamas' military intelligence.
The explosion was so strong that parts of the walls flew onto the roof of the AP office, which is located on the eleventh floor of the neighboring building.
Israel's military has beefed up its forces on the border of the Gaza Strip and deployed anti-missile defense systems in anticipation of further fierce clashes with Islamic extremist Hamas, which rules the Palestinian territory.
Public shelters have been opened in most major cities in Israel, and sports events and public transport have been canceled in the south of the country. Meanwhile, Hamas leaders have gone underground.
Israeli media reports that the clashes could last for days. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in Washington that Israel will not tolerate a rocket attack and that it responds violently to cruel aggression.
A long-range rocket fired from the southern Gaza Strip landed and destroyed a house in Mishmoret, north of Tel Aviv.
In the explosion, six members of a family were injured, including three children, as well as one person from the neighboring house.
The surprise clash came at a sensitive time for both Netanyahu and Hamas.
Netanyahu, who has been in power for nearly 13 years, is seeking a fifth term as prime minister after parliamentary elections on April 9, but his rivals accuse him of being too soft on Hamas, among other things.
He traveled to Washington on Sunday to celebrate US recognition of Israel's control of the Golan, but was instead forced to cut the visit short and return to Israel today.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh issued a statement warning Israel that it would take revenge for the attacks and that the Palestinian people would not surrender.
Hamas targets were attacked at a time when the organization is facing rare protests over poor living conditions in Gaza.
This is the result of the Israeli and Egyptian blockade and sanctions of the Palestinian Authority, which is dominated by rival Hamas, and the mismanagement of Hamas.
Israel and Hamas have gone to war three times since 2007, and the 2014 war lasted 50 days. Although it seems that neither side is interested in a new war, the conflicts could easily get out of control.
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