Ceasefire permits children to play

For three hours, Israel allowed border crossings to open to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

International journalists have not been allowed to travel into Gaza, but the BBC's Rushdi Abu Alouf is based there and saw children making the most of the three hour ceasefire. During the pause in the Israeli military operation, children were allowed to venture outside for the first time in 12 days and play.

Child psychiatrists in both Gaza and southern Israel fear some children will never recover from the psychological damage done as the bombs, shells and rockets fall.