Israel agrees on principles of cease-fire

GAZA, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Israel said Wednesday it agreed "on the principles" of a cease-fire proposal for Gaza, which Hamas militants say is a positive sign.

Israeli spokesman Mark Regev said the challenge now was to "get the details to match the principles," the BBC reported.

Leaders of Hamas, the militant group controlling Gaza, said the information indicated "positive signs" but added there is "no agreement yet."

Meanwhile, a lull in fighting permitted Gazans to receive humanitarian aid, care for their injured and bury their dead. Israel announced it would stop its military campaign for three hours every other afternoon for humanitarian purposes.

World leaders have been pressuring Israel and Hamas to accept a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, which began on Dec. 27 when Israel launched airstrikes. Israel said it began the operation to halt rocket attacks on southern Israel and to stop Hamas from smuggling weapons into Gaza through Egypt.

Security officials said senior Israeli defense official Amos Gilad will go to Cairo Thursday to discuss cease-fire options, the British broadcaster said. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to arrive in Cairo on Friday.

Palestinian health officials say at least 683 Palestinians have been killed and more than 3,085 injured since Israel began its offensive, the BBC said. Israel said seven of its soldiers have died on the ground and four civilians have died because of Hamas rocket-fire.