Hamas-Israel ceasefire in Gaza, truce has been brokered by Egyptian intelligence officials.

Hamas-Israel ceasefire in Gaza, truce has been brokered by Egyptian intelligence officials. (BBC).

A ceasefire is due to be announced between Hamas and Israel following exchanges of fire along the border with the Gaza Strip, the BBC understands.

A source with the militant Palestinian group said a truce had been brokered by Egyptian intelligence officials.

Scores of rockets from Gaza have hit southern Israel in recent days and Israel has responded with air strikes.

Meanwhile, tensions are high in East Jerusalem ahead of the planned funeral of a murdered Palestinian teenager.

There have already been two days of clashes there between masked Palestinians and police over the kidnap and murder of 17-year-old Mohammed Abu Khdair.

The motive for his killing has not been confirmed . Police officials have told The Times of Israel they were investigating two possible motives: that Abu Khdeir was killed in a family honor killing, or that it was a nationalistically motivated slaying.

The teenager's funeral has already been delayed, adding to the tension.

The Hamas source told the BBC that "intensive contacts" between the group and Egyptian officials "succeeded in reaching a new truce between Hamas and Israel, and that the ceasefire agreement was to be announced within hours".

The source said Hamas was ready to put a halt to rocket fire in return for an assurance that Israeli would stop air raids.