A senior Hamas official said that talks with mediators over a cease-fire were underway, predicting that a truce could be reached within days.
Hamas’ remarks came as Israel and Gaza militants continued to pursue their cross-border attacks.
“I expect a ceasefire to be reached within a day or two, and the ceasefire will be on the basis of mutual agreement,” Moussa Abu Marzouk, told Lebanon’s al-Mayadeen TV about reaching a cease-fire.
An Egyptian security source cited by Reuters news agency said the sides had agreed in principle to a cease-fire after help from mediators. However, that details were still under negotiation.
US opposes France’s push for UN cease-fire
The United States said it opposed a proposed United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire, insisting that it could interfere with other mediation efforts by Washington.
France had drafted the resolution after the US blocked several attempts to have the council issue a public statement calling de-escalation.
“We’ve been clear and consistent that we are focused on intensive diplomatic efforts underway to bring an end to the violence and that we will not support actions that we believe undermine efforts to de-escalate,” a spokesperson for the US Mission to the UN said.
A press statement requires consensus by all 15 council members, but a resolution, which is legally binding, requires at least nine “yes” votes and no veto by any of the five permanent members.
