Gaza ceasefire efforts continue

The Israeli security cabinet was to meet on Friday to discuss Kerry's latest proposal for a ceasefire, according to reports in local media.

A report published by Israel's Haaretz newspaper cited high-ranking Israeli officials who said that the proposal was for a one-week-long truce in which hostilities would end, but Israeli forces would be allowed to continue to destroy tunnels used by Palestinian militants.

A report in the New York Times wrote of a two-stage plan, in which both sides would hold their fire, while talks would be held on a more comprehensive ceasefire. It wasn't clear whether Israeli troops would withdraw from Gaza as part of the plan.

Deadly attack on UN school

Kerry's efforts to get the two sides to agree to lay down their weapons - at least temporarily - appeared more urgent than ever on Friday, a day after an attack on a United Nations school in Gaza that killed at least 15 people.

A spokesman for the UN Relief and Works Agency said it had been trying to arrange with the Israeli army an evacuation of the civilians from the school at the time of the attack.

Palestinians were quick to blame the attack on the Israeli Defense Forces, who have said they are investigating the incident.

IDF spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Lerner, though, raised the possibility that Palestinian militants may have been to blame.

"It could be errant fire from the IDF or rockets landing from Gaza terrorists, but we still don't know, there's still a question mark," Lerner told Reuters TV.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who condemned the attack on the school at Beit Hanoun, was careful not to point the finger at either party.

"Circumstances are unclear," he said.

Ban arrived in Cairo late on Thursday, where he was expected to meet with Kerry, to support his efforts to broker a truce between the parties to the conflict.

West Bank clashes

Meanwhile, at least one Palestinian was killed and dozens of others injured after clashes between demonstrators protesting against the Gaza offensive and Israeli security forces broke out in the West Bank late on Thursday.

Israeli forces were placed on a heightened state of alert, after leaders of Palestinian factions called for a "day of rage" on Friday.

pfd/msh (AFP, dpa, Reuters)