Israel and Hamas agree a ceasefire after 11 days of fighting

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has begun following 11 days of fighting that have left more than 200 dead - the vast majority of them Palestinians.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced the ceasefire and a security cabinet statement called it "mutual and unconditional".

Hamas had confirmed that the truce would begin at 2am on Friday (midnight UK time).

In the countdown to the ceasefire, whose timing Hamas had confirmed but Israel did not, Palestinian rocket salvo continued and Israel carried out at least one airstrike.

Each side said it stood ready to retaliate for any truce violations by the other. Meanwhile, Cairo said it would send two delegations to monitor the ceasefire.

Hamas, the Islamist militant group that rules the Gaza Strip, scheduled public celebrations for what it deemed a victory over a militarily and economically stronger foe.

Hamas, which fought three wars with Israel between 2009 and 2014, fired more than 3,700 rockets targeting cities and towns across Israel, and two Israeli children were killed.

The latest conflict began on May 10 after weeks on tensions in and around Jerusalem and it triggered the worst fighting between Israel and the Palestinians since a 2014 war with Hamas. It also sparked communal unrest between minority Arab Israelis and Jews, a rarity that unsettled political leaders and wider society in Israel, and widespread unrest in the occupied West Bank.

The ceasefire agreed late on Thursday was brokered by Egypt, which has mediated along with the US and Qatar. Cairo said it would send two security delegations to Tel Aviv and the Palestinian territories to follow up on implementation measures.