HAMAS has accepted a ceasefire deal with Israel ending an onslaught on Gaza from massive air strikes on Friday.

Four Palestinians died, including three Hamas members. Israel also claimed to have destroyed more than 60 Hamas targets.

The attack came after an Israeli soldier was shot dead.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said it accepted the ceasefire brokered by Egyptian and United Nations officials and that calm had been restored.

This is the second such deal in the last week.

The recent outburst of violence comes after months of near-weekly border protests organised by Hamas aimed against the Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza.

More than 130 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the protests began on March 30.