Driving the news: Both sides intensified their attacks over the last 24 hours in anticipation of a ceasefire. Gaza health officials say at least 232 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the crisis, including 65 children. Twelve people have been killed in Israel.
The ceasefire talks have been moving on two tracks: Egyptian intelligence officials are talking to Netanyahu's office and Hamas leadership in Gaza; while UN envoy Tor Wennesland is talking to Hamas political leadership abroad.
What to watch:Hamas officials have called on Israel to end police "incursions" into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, or Temple Mount, and stop the evictions of Palestinian residents in East Jerusalem as part of the ceasefire.
- Israel refuses to discuss any agreement that would link the Gaza conflict to Jerusalem, sources familiar with the talks tell Axios.
- Background: The current escalation began last Monday in Jerusalem after Israeli police raided the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, or Temple Mount, where Palestinians had been protesting the possible forced removal of six Palestinian families in favor of Jewish settlers. After the raid, Hamas fired rockets on Israel.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
