JERUSALEM (AP) — Despite fruitless attempts by diplomats to achieve a weeklong truce in the fighting in Gaza, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a 12-hour humanitarian cease fire to begin Saturday morning.

Secretary of State John Kerry had sought the longer pause in order to give regional players time to develop a long-term cease-fire.

Israel wants more time to destroy Hamas military tunnels and rocket launching sites in Gaza. Militants there have fired close to 2,500 rockets at Israel since July 8.

Israeli airstrikes and tank shelling have killed more than 860 Palestinians, most of them civilians. More than 5,700 people have been wounded and tens of thousands have been displaced.

Thirty-six Israeli troops have been killed and three civilians in Israel also have died.

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