No ‘timeframe’ insight for end to Gaza hostilities, Israel says

An Egyptian security source said the two sides had agreed to a ceasefire in principle after help from mediators. [Reuters]

Israel said on Wednesday it was not setting a timeframe for an end to hostilities with Gaza as its military pounded the Palestinian enclave with airstrikes and Hamas militants unleashed new cross-border rocket attacks.

In a sign of diplomatic movement, however, an Egyptian security source said the two sides had agreed to a ceasefire in principle after help from mediators, but details were being negotiated in secret amid public denials of a deal to prevent it from collapsing.