Olmert says Israel will unilaterally halt its 22-day Gaza offensive

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Olmert says Israel will unilaterally halt its 22-day Gaza offensive

The Associated Press Published Saturday, January 17, 2009 4:13PM EST

An Israeli army mobile artillery piece fires towards targets in the Gaza Strip, from the Israel side of the border with Gaza, southern Israel, Saturday Jan. 17, 2009. (AP / Bernat Armangue)

Text:

JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says Israel will unilaterally halt its 22-day military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli leaders voted during an emergency security meeting today to stop fighting at 7 p.m. ET today, but keep troops on the ground for the time being.

Hamas has said it won't respect the ceasefire as long as Israel remains inside Gaza.

More than 1,100 Palestinians, half of them civilians, have died in the Israeli operation. Thirteen Israelis have also died.