Israel's leaders voted late yesterday to halt an offensive that has killed nearly 1,200 people, turned the streets and neighbourhoods of the Gaza Strip into battlegrounds and dealt a stinging blow to the Islamic militants of Hamas.

Israeli Premier, Ehud Olmert, said in a televised address that Israel's "goals have been achieved, and more. Hamas was hit hard in its military arms and in its government institutions".

Fighting, he said would stop at midnight on Saturday. But Israel will keep troops on the ground for the time being, Olmert said.

Ceasefire

But Hamas leaders have repeated that it will not respect any ceasefire as long as Israel remains inside Gaza.

More than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed in the three weeks of violence, according to Palestinian and United Nations officials. Thirteen Israelis have also died.