Israel has put plans for a ground operation in Gaza "on hold" to give talks to secure a truce with Hamas militants a chance, officials say.

It is understood Israel has set a Thursday deadline for the Egypt-brokered talks to succeed.

The current conflict began last Wednesday when Israel killed Hamas’s military commander, saying it wanted to end rocket attacks on its soil.

More than 110 Palestinians and three Israelis have been killed so far.

Officials are due to restart talks in Cairo, and Egyptian officials have told the BBC there are signs of progress.

Israeli troops are massed along the border, raising fears of a ground offensive similar to that of 2008-09.