The Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers said on Sunday they wanted to end the recent round of fighting with Israel after Israel's defense minister signaled willingness to agree to a ceasefire.
"The Palestinian factions are not interested in escalation," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters. "If the Israeli aggression stopped, it would be natural for calm to be restored."
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The ongoing rocket attacks and Israeli strikes in the Gaza region have exposed a rift within Hamas, as despite the political wing's wish, the group's military wing insists on continuing the fire.
The Arab League is expected to convene for an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss the escalation in the Gaza Strip, at the request of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The death toll since Israel launched its retaliation for an attack on a school bus that critically wounded a teenager on Thursday, stands at 19.
Gaza militants have fired at least 120 rockets and mortars at southern Israel in that time, the Israeli army said.
Elior Levy contributed to this report
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