Tel Aviv - Israel will temporarily cease its fire in the Gaza Strip to allow the Palestinians living there to stock up on necessities, as ministers met to consider whether to intensify the Gaza assault, or accept an Egyptian-French truce proposal. A military spokesman said there was a plan whereby for three hours every day Israel would halt the fire in its offensive against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
Israel Radio said the pause would last from between 1 pm to 4 pm (1100 GMT to 1400 GMT).
The move comes after acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered a humanitarian corridor be set up in the Strip to allow necessary provisions to reach Palestinians who have been cut off by the fierce fighting.
Defence Minister Ehud Barak ordered goods crossings points on the Israel-Gaza border to be opened Wednesday and according to Israeli figures, 80 trucks would bring aid to the Strip and about 460,000 litres of fuel would be delivered.
The Israeli cabinet meanwhile met in Tel Aviv to hear a situation report on the Gaza fighting, and to decide whether Israel should intensify its operation and send troops into densely-populated areas of the Gaza Strip, or whether Israel will accept a ceasefire proposed Tuesday night by Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Olmert told reporters Tuesday that Israel would not stop its Gaza offensive until rocket attacks on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip were halted, and unless "the weapons smuggling from the Sinai to Gaza stop completely."
The fighting in the enclave, meanwhile continued Wednesday, with the Israel Air Force, navy and artillery striking around 40 targets since midnight, an Israeli military spokesman said.
Targets included rocket launching sites, as well as tunnels and bunkers constructed between houses in built-up areas, the spokesman said.
Health officials in the Gaza Strip said that 675 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks since the offensive began, and 3050 wounded.
In Israel, three civilians and one soldier have been killed by Palestinian rockets fired from the Strip and dozens wounded. Six soldiers have been killed in fighting in the Strip, and around 80 wounded.
Gaza has been blockaded by Israel for months. Israel began bombing the Strip on December 27, in response to massive rocket barrages from the salient on its southern towns and villages following the end of a truce on December 19.
On Saturday evening the army was ordered into the Strip, which has since seen heavy ground fighting.
International aid groups have accused Israel of causing a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, a charge Israel denies, saying that since the Israeli operation began it has been allowing aid into the salient.
