"The Palestinian leadership offered a new suggestion in the framework of the Egyptian initiative for a ceasefire followed immediately by negotiations lasting five days," Fatah official al-Ahmed said.

However Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has rejected a proposal by Egypt for a ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip, unless Israel meets a few demands including an end to the Gaza blockade.

The military wing of Hamas, Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, dismissed earlier the proposal as “surrender” and vowed to “intensify” its battle against Israel.

On the same day, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum said, “A ceasefire without reaching an agreement is rejected. In times of war, you don’t cease fire and then negotiate.”

The resistance movement has said it will not hold its fire without Israel agreeing to a list of demands, including an end to its eight-year blockade on the Gaza Strip, along with the opening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

Egyptian Foreign Ministry had earlier presented a three-step plan over the Gaza conflict, which starts with a 12-hour ceasefire that took effect last week.

Tel Aviv has also ignored the UN’s call for a truce and is continuing its intensive aerial bombing and ground campaign against Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Tel Aviv will not stop its attacks on Gaza.