Hamas 'ready for ceasefire' to end 20-day Gaza conflict

HAMAS was today reported to be ready to call a ceasefire within the next 24 hours as Israel declared that the Gaza conflict was nearing its "final act".

Sources said the Palestinian militant group was prepared to stop fighting if five key conditions, including an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the reopening of border crossings, were met.

At the same time, Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev confirmed that an end to military operations could be close as his country and the US continued to negotiate details of a plan for stopping the smuggling of weapons into Gaza from Egypt.

That would address the key Israeli concern that Hamas should not be allowed to use any suspension of hostilities to re-arm and raised hopes that the basic elements of a long-term peace deal were beginning to fall into place.

"Hopefully we're in the final act," Mr Regev added.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports suggested that a "time out" from the 20-day conflict - which has claimed more than 1,000 Palestinian lives - could begin tomorrow, leading to a two-week truce that would be used to agree the details of a one-year ceasefire and an eventual permanent peace deal.

Israeli aircraft launched about 40 air strikes across Gaza today, targeting smuggling tunnels, a rocket launcher, and a mosque used to store arms.