Tel Aviv -  A senior Hamas official in Gaza told an Israeli Website Wednesday that a ceasefire with Israel could be reached within 48 hours.

"In the light of all the diplomatic efforts ongoing right now, I am convinced we will succeed in finding a formula agreeable to both sides within 48 hours," Ahmed Yousef, a senior Hamas political figure and advisor to deposed prime minister Ismail Haniya, told the Ynet website.

New York  - The search for a sustainable Israel-Hamas ceasefire in the Gaza Strip was emerging as countries engaged in resolving the conflict were reaching a consensus, a United Nations official said Wednesday.

"It seems that the elements for a way out of this crisis are emerging, but more work needs to be done quickly to flesh out a package and secure a buy-in of the crucial players," Robert Serry, the UN coordinator for the Middle East peace process said at UN headquarters in New York.

Tel Aviv - Israel will send a top official to Cairo to discuss the details of a French-Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, local media reported Wednesday.

Earlier, Israeli officials said the Jewish State welcomed the proposal, announced by Egypt President Hosny Mubarak at a press conference the night before with French leader Nicolas Sarkozy.

Cairo  - An Egyptian ceasefire plan for Gaza which Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak hopes will help his damaged popularity has met a positive reaction since it was announced late on Tuesday.

Seeking to regain regional stature damaged by Israel's attack on Gaza, Mubarak proposed a ceasefire plan that won immediate backing from the US and Europe, even though few details have been announced.

Berlin  - Germany welcomed Wednesday a proposal by Egypt's President Hosny Mubarak for a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and supporters of Chancellor Angela Merkel suggested German peacekeepers be sent to Gaza.

"If the parties to the conflict were to desire it, German soldiers could of course play a role," said Gert Weisskirchen, a Social Democratic spokesman on foreign policy in remarks to the Spiegel Online news website.

Wellington - The New Zealand government, which has been reluctant so far to speak out on the conflict in the Middle East, issued a statement Wednesday saying it was "deeply worried by the mounting humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a result of the continuing Israeli ground offensive."

Foreign Minister Murray McCully said that attacks on United Nations facilities, including schools, in the Gaza Strip were of grave concern and underlined the need for both sides to agree to an immediate ceasefire.