24hr truce in Gaza

Militant groups in the Gaza Strip stated that, as of the evening of 21 December, they are observing a 24-hour truce with Israel at the request of Egyptian mediators. Rocket and mortar attacks from the Gaza Strip into Israel escalated after the expiration of a fragile six-month truce on 19 December. Israeli officials indicated that militants have launched at least 50 rockets and mortars since the truce ended; there have been no reports of casualties in Israel.