Israel to withdraw completely from Gaza strip during new ceasefire

The Israeli army said it would withdraw completely from the Gaza Strip effective immediately, when an agreed ceasefire with Hamas takes effect at 3pm (AEST).

The army will deploy outside Gaza in defensive positions when the three-day ceasefire begins, army spokesman Peter Lerner said.

Just minutes beforehand the ceasefire came into place, air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as Hamas militants fired a barrage of rockets at central Israel, AFP correspondents said.

Similarly, in Gaza, following the quietest night since the operation began on July 8, the Israeli air force staged at least five raids shortly before the truce began.