Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could come as early as Friday: WSJ

The Wall Street Journal has said a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could come as early as Friday, citing people involved in the discussions.

Egyptian officials had made headway in talks with Hamas’s leadership, and the Israeli military had privately conceded that it was nearing the completion of its objectives, US and foreign officials told the US newspaper.

The US, along with Egypt, Qatar and several European nations have been working to pressure both Israel and Hamas to end their military campaigns.

On Wednesday, Mousa Abu Marzouk, the deputy head of the political bureau of Hamas, told the Lebanon-based Al-Mayadeen TV channel that he believed “the ceasefire efforts currently underway will succeed”. 

"I expect a ceasefire within a day or two," he said, without providing further details.