British aid workers in Gaza are waiting to hear whether Israel will suspend bombing in another three-hour ceasefire.

But agencies have said that even if the area does see another temporary pause in fighting, there is very little that can be done to help besieged Palestinians in such a short time.

On Wednesday, 80 lorries carrying supplies and fuel were allowed into the enclave and humanitarian workers based there were able to distribute some rations but warned it was a fraction of the aid needed.

Elkhidir Daloum, Save the Children's regional director for the Middle East said that the brief respite from the shelling had made it possible for the charity to deliver just 750 parcels of aid.

"If it happens again we are expecting to be able to get only the same amount or even less through."

Oxfam spokesman Ian Bray said that there are conflicting reports about another pause later.

"It is impossible to plan anything. But we are getting ready, we are buying things locally, we are putting together hygiene kits so as soon as we can go in we are ready to help.

"But three hours is just a stay of execution. We want an immediate ceasefire and unfettered access, anything else is just a fig leaf."

Earlier Eygpt's UN Ambassador Maged Abdelaziz said that representatives of Israel, the Palestinians and Hamas had agreed to meet today for talks brokered by Egypt in Cairo.

Mr Abdelaziz said "everybody has agreed to send a technical delegation" for talks on the Egyptian-French truce proposal, the terms of which still remain unclear.