Israel's top leaders are meeting to discuss whether to accept a cease-fire plan or expand their military offensive in Gaza, reported AP.
The meeting of Israel's security Cabinet comes a day after France and Egypt sketched a proposal to stop the fighting. The initiative was spurred on by an Israeli mortar strike near a United Nations school the U.N. says killed 40 Palestinians.
The U.S. has endorsed the proposal. Israel has yet to give its response.
Israeli officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because no decision has been made, say Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his top ministers will consider the proposal Wednesday or whether to press ahead with the 12-day operation meant to stop rocket fire into Israel.
Israel has killed more than 600 Palestinians in the fighting.