Israel and Hamas have agreed to a truce in Gaza following months of negotiations.
Egyptian mediators confirmed the deal, saying there will be 'a complete cessation of hostilities and military action from Thursday'.
Egypt's announcement came after a series of air strikes in Gaza that left six people dead, including a senior fighter with an al-Qaeda linked group.
Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for a year, said it would respect the truce timetable but warned that it remained free to respond to any attacks on its militants before the ceasefire comes into force.
'Hamas will adhere to the timetable which was set by Egypt but it is our right to respond to any Israeli aggression before its implementation,' said spokesman Fawzi Barhum.
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev confirmed the start of the truce but insisted that the Jewish state required 'not just words but actions.'
'If indeed there is a cessation of terrorist attacks, if indeed there is an end to the military build-up in Gaza, if indeed there is movement on the issue of Gilad Shalit, this indeed will be a new reality.'
Mr Shalit has been held by Hamas since his capture in a cross-border raid by Gaza-based militants two years ago.
Egypt has been mediating indirect talks between Israel and the main Palestinian armed factions for months in a bid to secure a truce and lift a year-old Israeli blockade of the aid-dependent territory.
