Air strikes pulverise Gaza, ceasefire possible by today

Israeli leaders convened on Thursday to consider halting a Gaza offensive, possibly within hours, after US President Joe Biden called for a de-escalation of the fiercest hostilities in years.

The dominant Palestinian Islamist faction Hamas had predicted a truce by Friday. With Cairo mediating between the sides, an Egyptian security official said they had agreed in principle to cease fire but details needed to be worked out.

After Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his security cabinet, public broadcaster Kan said it would vote on a proposal to halt attacks unilaterally within 24 hours.

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There was no immediate Israeli confirmation of the report.

Palestinian sources said Hamas and Islamic Jihad wanted any truce to be mutually binding and simultaneous, but Kan said Israel wanted to cease fire on its own terms.

Despite growing signs that the sides were close to a cease-fire that would end 11 days of heavy fighting, Israel unleashed a new wave of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Thursday and Hamas fired more rockets into Israel. Since the fighting began on May 10, health officials in Gaza say 232 Palestinians, including 65 children and 39 women, have been killed and more than 1,900 wounded in aerial bombardments. Authorities put the death toll in Israel at 12.

On Thursday, Biden discussed Gaza with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-sisi and the White House said reports of moves toward a ceasefire were “encouraging”.

NETANYAHU CONVENED HIS SECURITY CABINET ON THURSDAY, AND IT WOULD VOTE ON A PROPOSAL TO HALT ATTACKS UNILATERALLY WITHIN 24 HOURS