Reports are coming in that Israel and Hamas are prepared to accept a ceasefire negotiated between the two parties alongside the United States, United Nations, European Union, and Egypt. According to Reuters, the ceasefire would be officially announced at 1900 GMT and go into effect at 2200 GMT, or midnight in Israel. The ceasefire would come after a week of air strikes by Israeli forces against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, with rocket-fire into Israel increasing during that same period.
Update:
CNN is reporting that the Israelis are denying that a ceasefire agreement has been reached, saying negotiations are still ongoing.
Update:
AP reports: “Senior Hamas official says no cease-fire deal with Israel but agreement is close.”
Update:
Israel’s Channel 2 is reporting that “an Israeli negotiations team has rejected a draft ceasefire, and that a press conference — ostensibly announcing the truce — that was initially scheduled to take place at 9 p.m. has been put off indefinitely.” Mark Perry sources a U.S. official as saying, “We think #Netanyahu will not say yes to a ceasefire until he talks with #Clinton — then he will move.”