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Gaza conflict: Israel rejects John Kerry ceasefire Gaza conflict: Israel rejects John Kerry ceasefire
(35 minutes later)
Israel's security cabinet has rejected a Gaza ceasefire proposal put forward by US Secretary of State John Kerry, officials say.Israel's security cabinet has rejected a Gaza ceasefire proposal put forward by US Secretary of State John Kerry, officials say.
Mr Kerry said he is working towards a seven-day ceasefire for the Eid festival which begins next week, as a prelude to a lasting ceasefire. Mr Kerry said he still hoped for an initial seven-day truce for next week's Eid festival but there was "still some terminology... to work through".
But there was "still some terminology in the context of the conflict to work through", he added. He said he was confident Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was committed to finding a solution.
Israel and the Islamist group Hamas have been fighting for 18 days.Israel and the Islamist group Hamas have been fighting for 18 days.
An Israeli official told Reuters that the cabinet wanted changes to the agreement before ending the offensive. Israel's Channel 1 TV reported that the cabinet had unanimously rejected the truce proposal "as it stands".
More than 800 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and 36 Israelis have died since the start of the conflict.More than 800 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and 36 Israelis have died since the start of the conflict.
Hamas is yet to respond to the proposed ceasefire but its leader has already said the group will not agree to a deal without an end to Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.Hamas is yet to respond to the proposed ceasefire but its leader has already said the group will not agree to a deal without an end to Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli airstrikes on Gaza continued on Friday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had killed a senior member of the militant group Islamic Jihad.Israeli airstrikes on Gaza continued on Friday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had killed a senior member of the militant group Islamic Jihad.
The IDF also said its Iron Dome defence system had intercepted several rockets fired across the border by Hamas.The IDF also said its Iron Dome defence system had intercepted several rockets fired across the border by Hamas.
Israel launched its military offensive on 8 July with the declared objective of stopping Hamas firing rockets into Israel.Israel launched its military offensive on 8 July with the declared objective of stopping Hamas firing rockets into Israel.
It has since extended its operation to destroy tunnels dug by militants to infiltrate Israel.It has since extended its operation to destroy tunnels dug by militants to infiltrate Israel.
Mr Kerry met Egypt's Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, and UN chief Ban Ki-moon in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. 'Agony'
The US secretary of state said the "agony" of the situation for both Gaza and Israel could not be overstated.The US secretary of state said the "agony" of the situation for both Gaza and Israel could not be overstated.
He said he would be in Paris on Saturday to continue talks with other players on achieving a ceasefire. "We are confident that we have a fundamental framework that can and will ultimately work," he said.
"We believe that seven days will give all the parties the opportunity to step back from the violence and focus on the underlying causes."
He was speaking after talks in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, with Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who likewise called for the seven-day "humanitarian" truce.
For the UN, Mr Ban said progress was being made but much more work remained.
Mr Kerry said he would be in Paris on Saturday to continue talks with other players on achieving a ceasefire.
In other developmentsIn other developments
Are you in the West Bank, Gaza or Israel? Are you affected by the violence? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Israel Gaza'.Are you in the West Bank, Gaza or Israel? Are you affected by the violence? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Israel Gaza'.