Dec. 18 - Israelis and Palestinians are bracing themselves for fresh violence as Hamas declared an end to a six month-old ceasefire with Israel in Gaza.

The Islamist group which runs the Palestinian coastal enclave said it wasn't prepared to renew the Egyptian-brokered truce, which is due to expire on Friday, because of Israel's refusal to ease its blockade of the Gaza Strip. The move raises the prospect of an escalation in cross-border fighting. Helen Long reports.

AlertNet news is provided by