DHAKA: Egypt has proposed a ceasefire to end a week of cross-border fire between the Gaza Strip and Israel.

The initiative urges a ceasefire starting early on Tuesday followed by a series of meetings in Cairo with high-level delegations from both sides.   

However, an official from Hamas, which controls Gaza, said a full deal would have to come first, before a ceasefire.   

Israeli officials said PM Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet would discuss the proposal early on Tuesday.

A senior Israeli official told that Hamas was "much weaker" after air strikes destroyed many of its rockets and manufacturing facilities.  

The ceasefire calls comes ahead of an urgent meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo.  

Hamas, the faction that controls Gaza, confirmed that truce efforts were under way.  

Earlier United Nations and European Union had urged the two sides a ceasefire.   

Palestinian officials say at least 175 people in Gaza have been killed by Israeli air strikes since the offensive began last Tuesday.  

Israel says nearly 1,000 rockets have been fired from Gaza in that time.     

Thousands of people have fled their homes in northern Gaza after an Israeli warning and Israel has also massed thousands of troops on the border, amid speculation of a possible ground invasion.

Source: BBC

BDST: 0855 HRS, JUL 15, 2014