Israel pounds Gaza as ceasefire gathers pace

GAZA CITY: Diplomatic efforts towards a ceasefire in the Gaza war gathered pace on Thursday amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory, but Israeli air strikes again pulverised the enclave early Thursday, killing at least one Palestinian and wounding several, and Hamas rockets targetted towns in Israel.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed back against calls from the US to wind down the Gaza offensive, appearing determined to inflict maximum damage on Hamas in a war that could help save his political career. Still, officials close to the negotiations say they expect a truce to be announced in the next 24 hours.

Explosions shook Gaza City and orange flares lit up the predawn sky, with bombing raids also reported in the central town of Deir al-balah and the southern town of Khan Younis on an 11th day of hostilities. As the sun rose, residents surveyed the rubble from at least five family homes destroyed in Khan Younis.

A senior official in the Hamas militant group said on Wednesday a ceasefire could take hold within days. An Israeli minister said Israel would halt its offensive only when it had achieved its goals. An Egyptian intelligence official said a cease-fire was likely late Thursday or early Friday.