Israel bombed dozens of targets in Gaza on Monday as conflict between Israel and Gaza militants entered its sixth day. Prepared to step up its offensive by sending in troops, Israel said it preferred a diplomatic solution that would end Hamas rocket fire.

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Egypt is leading the efforts to mediate a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, while the casualties increase. More Israeli airstrikes targeted a Gaza high-rise that houses many foreign journalists for a second straight day, killing two people including a militant the Islamic Jihad group said had been in charge of "media warfare" against Israel.

Altogether, the offensive that began Wednesday killed 96 Palestinians, including 50 civilians, and wounded some 720 people, Gaza heath official Ashraf al-Kidra said. Among the wounded were 225 children.

Egypt's prime minister, Hisham Kandil, says talks in Cairo to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could be getting close to agreement, ABC News reports.

"I think we are close, but the nature of this kind of negotiation, [means] it is very difficult to predict," said Kandil.

Israeli media said a delegation from Israel had also been to Cairo for truce talks, according to Reuters. A spokesman for Netanyahu's government declined comment on the matter.

"Israel is prepared and has taken steps, and is ready for a ground incursion which will deal severely with the Hamas military machine," a senior official close to Netanyahu told Reuters.

"We would prefer to see a diplomatic solution that would guarantee the peace for Israel's population in the south. If that is possible, then a ground operation would no longer be required. If diplomacy fails, we may well have no alternative but to send in ground forces," he added.

READ MORE: Obama Supports Israel's Right To Defend Itself 

Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal rejected Israel's demands that the militant group stop its rocket fire. Mashaal said Israel must lift the blockade of Gaza first. Both sides remaining far apart in their demands for a cease-fire.

More on the conflict Israel--Gaza conflict here.

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