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Gaza conflict: Israel rejects John Kerry ceasefire Gaza conflict: Israel rejects truce 'as it stands'
(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 "as it stands".
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". Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon said ground operations in Gaza could soon be broadened "significantly".
He said he was confident Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was committed to finding a solution. Mr Kerry said he still hoped for an initial seven-day truce next week.
Israel and the Islamist group Hamas have been fighting for 18 days. Hamas, the Islamist group which controls Gaza, said earlier it would not accept a deal without an end to Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.
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 between Israel and Hamas which entered its 18th day on Friday.
More than 800 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and 36 Israelis have died since the start of the conflict. A senior Israeli official told the BBC that Mr Yaalon and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were "considering a 12-hour humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza.
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.
Rioting has erupted for the second night running at the Qalandia checkpoint in the West Bank, where 10,000 protesters massed on Thursday, clashing with Israeli border police.Rioting has erupted for the second night running at the Qalandia checkpoint in the West Bank, where 10,000 protesters massed on Thursday, clashing with Israeli border police.
Stones have been thrown and there has been some fire from the Israeli side, the BBC's Jon Donnison reports.Stones have been thrown and there has been some fire from the Israeli side, the BBC's Jon Donnison reports.
'Agony'
In other developmentsIn other developments
The US secretary of state said the "agony" of the situation for both Gaza and Israel could not be overstated. 'Agony'
"We are confident that we have a fundamental framework that can and will ultimately work," he said. Israel's Channel 1 TV reported that the cabinet had unanimously rejected the truce proposal "as it stands".
"We believe that seven days will give all the parties the opportunity to step back from the violence and focus on the underlying causes." Just after Mr Kerry spoke to reporters, the Israeli defence minister's office issued a statement in which he was quoted as telling soldiers in the field: "You need to be ready for the possibility that very soon we will instruct the military to significantly broaden the ground operation in Gaza."
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. Mr Kerry said he was confident Mr Netanyahu was committed to finding a solution and that the "agony" of the situation for both Gaza and Israel could not be overstated.
There was, he said, "still some terminology... to work through" but he was confident there was a "fundamental framework that can and will ultimately work".
"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 said.
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 to coincide with the Muslim Eid holiday.
For the UN, Mr Ban said progress was being made but much more work remained.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.Mr Kerry said he would be in Paris on Saturday to continue talks with other players on achieving a ceasefire.
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'.