A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip held into Saturday as officials said Egyptian mediators conferred with the sides on securing longer-term calm.
According to Hamas officials, Egypt mediated the halt to the fighting with US support and Egyptian delegates have since been shuttling between Israel and Gaza to discuss ways of firming up the ceasefire, including with aid for Palestinians in Gaza.
Gaza medical officials put the Palestinian death toll from Israeli air and artillery strikes at 248, including 66 children.
From its part, Saudi Arabia welcomed the declaration of a ceasefire in the Gaza strip and said in a foreign ministry statement "we appreciate the Egyptian efforts and the efforts of the international parties to reach a ceasefire in Gaza".
The Saudi statement also reaffirmed the kingdom's continuation of efforts with allies to reach a resolution.
The Gaza violence was set off in part by Israeli police raids of East Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and clashes with Palestinians during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
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