A senior Hamas official has said that he expects Israel and Gaza militants to reach a ceasefire “within a day or two” as cross-border attacks continue.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday he was “determined to carry on” until “calm and security are restored to Israel citizens”.
There were more than 100 Israeli air strikes on Hamas infrastructure in the north of Gaza early on Thursday.
Palestinian militants retaliated with rocket fire at targets in Israel.
The Gaza fighting began after weeks of rising Israeli-Palestinian tension in occupied East Jerusalem that culminated in clashes at a holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews. Hamas, which controls Gaza, began firing rockets after warning Israel to withdraw from the site, triggering retaliatory air strikes.
According to the Gaza health ministry, at least 227 people, including more than 100 women and children, have been killed in Gaza so far. Israel said at least 150 militants are among those killed in Gaza. Hamas does not give casualty figures for fighters.
“I think that the ongoing efforts regarding the ceasefire will succeed,” said Hamas political official, Moussa Abu Marzouk.
“I expect a ceasefire to be reached within a day or two, and the ceasefire will be on the basis of mutual agreement.”
His comments comes as international pressure mounts on Israel and the Palestinian militants to end hostilities.
An Egyptian security source said that the two sides had agreed in principle to a ceasefire after assistance from mediators but negotiations were still taking place.
