Morning update,
Good morning MEE readers,
The fourth day of Israel's offensive in Gaza began with a tense calm as the prospect of a ceasefire grew overnight.
After heavy Israeli bombardment throughout Thursday, Palestinian armed groups launched hundreds of long-range rockets, with dozens of them falling in southern Israel and Tel Aviv suburbs.
At least 30 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli shelling so far, with nearly 100 more wounded. Palestinian rockets killed one Israeli and wounded at least seven others.
After the rockets, the Palestinian Joint Command, an umbrella body of armed factions in Gaza, including Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, said rockets would continue if Israel did not stop targeting civilian homes.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the offensive would continue for as long as necessary.
Israeli fight jets continued to pummel Gaza overnight but largely left little damage and a few injuries.
The relative quiet overnight has boosted hopes that a ceasefire could be brokered soon. Media reports suggest that Egypt has resumed efforts to mediate a truce between the Israelis and the Palestinians after earlier indirect talks failed to end hostilities.
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