Gaza deal possible in a week or two though not within a day, senior Israeli official says

WASHINGTON — Israel and Hamas may be able to reach a Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release deal within one or two weeks but such an agreement is not expected to be secured in a day’s time, a senior Israeli official says.

Speaking to non-Israeli reporters during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, the official says that if the two sides agree to a proposed 60-day ceasefire, Israel will use that time to offer a permanent ceasefire that will require the Palestinian terrorist group to disarm.

If Hamas refuses, “we’ll proceed” with military operations, the official says on condition of anonymity.