JERUSALEM, May 18 — A senior Israeli official cast doubt yesterday on the possibility of a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine after more than a week of violent conflict that has left dozens dead.
Efforts by the United States, Egypt and the United Nations to bring a halt to Israeli air strikes and rocket fire by Palestinians in Gaza have so far failed to quell the fighting.
Asked if any ceasefire was in the works, a senior Israeli official told Reuters: “There is no such thing right now. There is no negotiation. There is no proposal. There is nothing on the table.”
The official said that Egypt was likely the most reliable mediator between Israel and Gaza’s Islamist rulers Hamas. “They seem most connected,” the official said.
Egypt, which shares a border with Gaza, has mediated Israel-Hamas ceasefires in the past, along with Qatar and the United Nations. The UN General Assembly will meet to discuss the violence on Thursday.
But the senior Israeli official held out the possibility of a more prolonged conflict.
“We have no idea how much time we need, because the rocket fire is unceasing. We can’t stop when the attacks are coming in like this. Israel is ready to keep fighting. The target bank is unending. This could go on for months,” the official said. — Reuters
