Jerusalem, Jan. 18 : The security cabinet of Israel has reportedly approved a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, at least from the Israeli side of the border with Gaza.

According to the Jerusalem Post, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced the cease-fire proposal on Saturday, while adding that the goals of Israel''s offensive in Gaza had been achieved.

Israel''s 12-member Security Cabinet was expected to approve the Egyptian proposal, under which fighting would stop immediately for 10 days. Israeli forces would remain in Gaza and the territory''s border crossings with Israel and Egypt would remain closed until security arrangements are made to prevent Hamas arms smuggling.

Jerusalem, Jan. 16 : The Israeli Air Force has killed Hamas Interior Minister Said Siam, even as media reports said that a cease-fire between the two sides would begin soon.

According to the Jerusalem Post, Siam is the most senior Hamas political leader killed since Operation Cast Lead began on December 27. He died along with his brother Iad, his son, and Gen. Salah Abu Shrakh, head of the Hamas General Security Service.

The four were killed by an IAF strike on Iad Siam''s home in Jabalya.

Siam was the Hamas political echelon''s liaison with the group''s military wing, Izzadin Kassam, and was responsible for the various security apparatuses in the Strip, including the Hamas police and naval forces.

Jerusalem, Jan. 15 : The United Nations on Thursday expressed its outrage against Israel after it targeted its headquarters in the Gaza Strip, injuring three of its employees.

Chris Gunness of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) told Sky News that hundreds of people were taking refuge inside the compound when it was hit by "three white phosphorus" shells.

The weapons burn at extremely high temperatures, starting fires that cannot be put out with fire extinguishers.

Gunness confirmed that a blaze is raging in one of the buildings housing hundreds of tons of food aid due to be pushed out today.

Jerusalem, Jan. 15: A forum of Israeli human rights organizations has called on the country''s political and military leadership to launch a domestic probe into "suspected war crimes" committed during Operation Cast Lead.

Jerusalem, Jan. 15 : Fighting escalated in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday as the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) tightened its grip on Gaza City, pushed deeper into the Shati refugee camp and killed close to 30 Hamas gunmen.

The combat continued despite predictions in the defense establishment that a cease-fire would be implemented in the coming days, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Senior officials in the defense establishment, including Defense Minister Ehud Barak, believe the military operations have exhausted themselves and that the time has come for a cease-fire.

It is still unclear whether Israeli forces will immediately withdraw from Gaza once a cease-fire is in place.

Jerusalem, Jan. 15 : The militant outfit Hamas has announced that it has accepted the Egyptian cease-fire initiative "in principle" and that it was now awaiting Israel''s response.

According to the Jerusalem Post, the announcement came after a Hamas delegation concluded two days of marathon talks with representatives of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service in Cairo.

Hamas denied reports in the Egyptian media to the effect that it had accepted the Egyptian initiative unconditionally.

Jerusalem had no formal response on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak were expected to discuss the developments at a meeting Wednesday night.