"What are you looking for?" Jesus asks the disciples of John who approach him in this Sunday's gospel. Egyptian negotiators were asking the same question of Israel and Hamas this week in hopes of reaching a cease-fire in the devastating war in Gaza. As the Palestinian death toll passed 1,000 midweek, a proposed 10-day cease-fire appeared to be gaining support.

Egyptian and Palestinian officials said they hoped to seal Hamas' agreement on a temporary halt in fighting, which would be presented to Israel for acceptance. Key uncertainties remained for a longer-term deal under which Gaza's borders would be open and Israeli troops would withdraw, but Egyptian officials expressed public optimism that momentum toward a deal was growing.

"We're working with Hamas and we're working with the Israeli side. We hope to reach an outcome soon," Hossam Zaki, a spokesman for Egypt's Foreign Ministry, told the BBC.

A Hamas spokesman said he also believed an agreement was possible.

"There is good progress in Egypt. We hope that now Egypt will contact Israel and talk about all issues," said Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas adviser.

Asked if a negotiated settlement could also include a deal between Hamas and the rival Palestinian administration, led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank, Hamad said he was hopeful. "I am optimistic now because I think there is no other choice for us," he said.

Egypt's foreign minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, said details on the proposed cease-fire would be kept "under a lid of secrecy" until all parties agreed but said issues included an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, opening crossings into the blockaded territory, and some kind of international monitoring.

Source: An article by Salah Nasrawi for the Associated Press