Hamas official predicts ceasefire ‘within a day or two’

Daily US Times: A senior Hamas official has predicted Israel and Gaza militants to reach a ceasefire “within a day or two” as conflict between the two continues.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said on Wednesday he was “determined to carry on” until “calm and security are restored to Israeli citizens”.

Moussa Abu Marzouk, Hamas political official, told Lebanon’s al-Mayadeen TV: “I think that the ongoing efforts regarding the ceasefire will succeed.”

“I expect a ceasefire to be reached within a day or two, and the ceasefire will be on the basis of mutual agreement,” he said.

Early on Thursday, there were more than 100 Israeli air strikes on Hamas infrastructure in the north of Gaza.

Palestinian militants retaliated with rocket fire at Israeli targets.

The latest fighting began after weeks of rising tenstions between Israeli-Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem that culminated in clashes at a holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews. Hamas began firing rockets after warning Israel to withdraw from the site, triggering retaliatory air strikes from Israel.

At least 227 people, including more than 100 children and women, have been killed in Gaza so far, its health ministry says. Israel has said at least 150 militants are among those killed in Gaza by their heavy air strikes. Hamas, ehich rules Gaza, does not give casualty figures for fighters.

Israel’s medical service says 12 people, including two children, have been killed. Israel says some 4,000 rockets have been fired towards its territory by Hamas.

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