A high-ranking member of Palestine's Hamas said on Wednesday (19 May) that he believes a ceasefire may be agreed between Israel and Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza within one to two days. The ceasefire would only involve the Gaza frontline and will not include clashes in the West bank and other fronts.
Mousa Abu Marzouk, a senior member of the Hamas Political Bureau, spoke to al-Mayadeen TV saying that "ongoing efforts regarding a ceasefire will succeed." However, channel 12 in Israel said that both political and military officials in Tel Aviv agreed that no ceasefire will be accepted before Friday.
Diplomatic sources also suggest that the UN Security Council member states are in discussions about a draft resolution for ceasefire prepared by France. The French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, hopes to convince the US to support the resolution.
Another Israeli channel suggested that the US is pushing Israel to de-escalate with Egypt playing the same role with Hamas. US President Joe Biden pushed the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to reduce tensions in Gaza. Most countries have openly supported the role played by Egypt.
“The president conveyed to the prime minister that he expected a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire”, the White House spokeswoman said.
More than 200 Palestinians have been killed with several more injured or arrested. Israeli sources claim at around 12 deaths since the clashes with Hamas started.
Israel has not announced a vision for de-escalation and no public announcement has been made by either side on a ceasefire agreement.
