Reports of imminent ceasefire are 'clearly encouraging', White House says

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said reports of a move towards a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza are encouraging.

"We have seen reports of a move toward a potential ceasefire. That's clearly encouraging," Psaki told a regular news briefing.

"We believe the Israelis have achieved significant military objectives that they laid out to achieve, in relation to protecting their people and to responding to the thousands of rocket attacks from Hamas," Psaki said. 

"So that's why in part that we feel they're in a position to start winding their operation down," she said.

Diplomatic moves towards a ceasefire in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict gained momentum on Thursday, but Israel threatened to step up strikes on Gaza as Hamas rocket fire resumed after a pause.