Ceasefire takes effect ending three days of Israeli shelling

An Egypt-brokered deal between Palestinian factions in Gaza and Israel has come into effect at 23:30 local time, ending three days of cross-border hostilities.

The weekend-long Israeli bombardment killed at least 44 Palestinians, including 15 children. More than 360 were wounded, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

In Israel, three people were lightly wounded by the shrapnel of Palestinian rockets.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement, the main target of Israel's operation that started on Friday, has claimed victory.

The organisation's chief, Ziyad Nakhla, said that the armed group remained strong after the fighting and that it did not agree to the ceasefire before its conditions were met, including the release of two of its officials arrested in the occupied West Bank by Israel.

Nakhla added that if the two men were not released soon, fighting would be resumed.

Israel also claimed victory.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid said earlier that his government achieved its goals against the PIJ and that there was no benefit to continuing the operation.

Both sides also thanked Egypt and international mediators for their efforts in ending the hostilities.