“Netanyahu, who saw daily polling that showed the vast majority of Israelis opposed a cease-fire, was looking for assurances that if such an offer was extended it would, in fact, be accepted. And he wanted the Biden administration’s help. Biden on Thursday morning called Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and asked him if he could guarantee that Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza would abide by a cease-fire if Israel agreed to a deal.” AP: Hour-by-hour: Biden’s behind-the-scenes push for cease-fire. (I really hope the violent outbursts among Arabs and Jews in multicultural towns also abates.)

+ One big difference between this and past fighting in the area: Tik Tok. Social media changed the narrative.

+ NYT: U.S. Looks to Rebuild Gaza, but Aid Could Hinge on Hamas’s Rocket Arsenal. Dennis Ross: “In a sense, you need to put Hamas in a position where they have to choose between their rockets and the well-being of Gaza.”

+ Here’s the latest from BBC.