01/17/09

* Israel 'to announce Gaza truce' The Israeli cabinet is set to back an end to offensive military activities in the Gaza Strip, three weeks after attacks began.

* Hamas to step up activities before truce As the Israel Defense Forces continues to operate deep inside the Gaza Strip, the preparations for a possible ceasefire continue.

* British PM Brown offers to use Royal Navy to battle Gaza arms smuggling British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Saturday that Britain had offered naval resources that could be used to help prevent arms smuggling into Gaza.

* Cabinet convenes to vote on unilateral Gaza cease-fire The cabinet on Saturday night convened to vote on a unilateral cease-fire deal which could end Operation Cast Lead three weeks after it began.

* Egypt: Israel drunk with power, violence Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said on Saturday his country was not committed to the US-Israeli pact to halt arms smuggling into the Gaza Strip.

* Mubarak calls for end to IDF Gaza op Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Saturday demanded that Israel immediately end its military operations in the Gaza Strip.

* Israel rejects suggestion committed 'war crimes' in Gaza UN officials have said war crimes may have been committed during Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip.

* Southern synagogue sustains direct hit Palestinians fired 10 rockets from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel on Saturday.

* U.S., Israel sign pact to battle Iran arms smuggling into Gaza The United States and Israel signed an agreement on Friday aimed at stopping the smuggling of weapons into the Gaza Strip.

* 'Any Gaza deal must include Schalit' Noam and Aviv Schalit, parents of captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, called on Saturday evening for the government to ensure their son's release is part of any agreement to end fighting in the Gaza Strip.