Israel is studying Hamas' response to a proposal for a 60-day ceasefire and release of half the hostages still held in Gaza, two Israeli officials said, although one source reiterated that all Israeli captives must be freed for the war to end.

Hamas has accepted a cease-fire proposal, putting the ball in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s court.

I srael has begun the "first stages of the attack on Gaza City" on Wednesday as it plans to call up to 50,000 to 60,000 reservists in order to invade and occupy the city, according to Israel Defense Forces spokesman Eddie Defrin and an Israeli military official.