Hamas has announced a week-long ceasefire in the Gaza Strip; hours after Israel said it was ending its military offensive.

A statement from the Islamic militant organisation said the group and its allies would honour a seven-day truce to allow Israeli soldiers to withdraw from Gaza.

In the early hours of Sunday morning Israeli's offensive operations were halted following a vote in prime minister Ehud Olmert's security council.

The Hamas announcement, made by deputy chief in Syria Moussa Abu Marzouk, came despite both sides trading missile attacks on Sunday.

"We announce a ceasefire of our factions in the Gaza Strip and we stress that our demand is the withdrawal of the enemy forces from the Gaza Strip within a week, along with the opening of all the crossings for the entry of humanitarian aid, food and other necessities for our people in the Gaza Strip," the Hamas spokesman said.

More than 1,200 Palestinians have died since Israeli began military operations against Gaza on December 27th, while 13 Israelis have been killed.

Aid agencies have warned of the developing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where civilians have been suffering from an 18-month Israeli blockade.

More than half of the victims of the Israeli offensive are civilians, while a third are children.

Hours after Mr Olmert announced an end to the 23-day offensive in Gaza, six rockets were fired out of the territory into southern Israel, while a gunfight broke out in the Jabaliya district of Gaza City.

Israel responded with an air-strike of its own after insisting it would retaliate if its soldiers or civilians were attacked by Hamas.

The United Nations had long since adopted a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, while European leaders are heading to Sharm el-Sheikh to discuss a Franco-Egyptian plan for a lasting peace.
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