On the diplomatic front, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met with Palestinian officials in the West Bank city of Ramallah and urged Israel to declare a unilateral ceasefire. Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is due to meet with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington later today. An Israeli envoy was sent to Cairo to discuss ceasefire terms offered by Hamas. Hamas is reportedly offering a year-long truce if Israel withdraws from Gaza and lifts its blockade.