(Reuters) Israel is reportedly preparing to launch a ground assault into Gaza.
Russia says the Hamas movement is ready to stop its rocket attacks on Israel if Tel Aviv agrees to lift the 18-month blockade of Gaza.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that Hamas's political leader, Khaled Mashaal, announced his side's readiness for a ceasefire.
"(Mashaal) voiced readiness to cease armed confrontation but on condition of the lifting of the blockade of Gaza," said the ministry, AFP reported.
The Russian statement came shortly after the Israeli cabinet rejected an international proposal for a 48-hour humanitarian aid truce in Israeli offensive on Gaza.
"The cabinet decided to continue with the military operation," a senior Israeli official said Wednesday.
After the cabinet meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was quoted as saying that now is not the time to halt the ongoing offensive.
The Israeli raids on Gaza have killed at least 387 Palestinians, while over 1,800 others are reported to be wounded.
Israel says through its military campaign, it seeks to topple the Hamas movement, which took control of the Gaza Strip in mid-June 2007 after winning the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections in January 2006.
"After this operation there will not be a single Hamas building left standing in Gaza, and we plan to change the rules of the game," armed forces deputy chief of staff Brigadier General Dan Harel was quoted by Ynet as saying
"We are hitting not only terrorists and launchers, but also the whole Hamas government and all its wings," Harel added.
Meanwhile, an unnamed Israeli foreign ministry official told the Jerusalem Post on Tuesday that destroying the Hamas movement was not on the table.
In retaliation to the attacks on Gaza, Hamas has launched rocket strikes on Israel, killing some six Israelis and wounding sixteen others.
Israel, meanwhile, is reportedly preparing to launch a ground assault into the region.
The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli blockade since the democratically-elected Palestinian government of Hamas took control of the area.
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