Gaza ceasefire hopes rise as fighting continues for another day

A rocket is launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel (AP/Hatem Moussa)

Israel has unleashed another wave of air strikes across the Gaza Strip and Hamas fired more rockets as expectations rise that a ceasefire could be reached.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed back against calls from the US to wind down the Gaza offensive, appearing determined to inflict maximum damage on Hamas in a war that could help save his political career.