Defense Minister Ehud Barak told participants at a philanthropic conference in Beit Yehoshua on Tuesday that "the IDF is prepared for any development, but it is important to maximize the chance for a truce in order to promote calm among the Gaza Belt communities, in addition to negotiating the release of [IDF Cpl.] Gilad Shalit."

Barak said it was too early to announce a truce between Hamas and Israel, although he said the two sides were "examining the possibility" of such a move.

Hamas announced Tuesday that it had agreed to begin the tahadiyeh, or period of "calm", starting at 6:00 a.m. Thursday.