UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Israel and the Palestinians have expressed "serious interest" in a 24-hour truce in the Gaza conflict, but a deal has yet to be reached, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday, as he raised concerns about the proportionality of Israel's military operation.
Israel eased its Gaza offensive and Palestinian rocket fire from the enclave declined on Monday, as international pressure mounted to end the 21-day conflict in which more than 1,000 people, mostly civilians and predominantly in Gaza, have been killed.