After a week of Israeli air strikes and Hamas rocket attacks, a window of opportunity for peace seems to have emerged as both sides have said they support a ceasefire amid intensifying international mediation.

Gaza's wounds are shedding fresh blood again to become a new flashpoint in the Middle East, where the situation is already volatile as a result of the crisis in Syria and the Iranian nuclear standoff. At present, a ceasefire is the only option if the two sides are to de-escalate tensions and prevent more civilian deaths. Getting the two sides to agree a truce should obviously be the immediate goal of the international community's mediation efforts.

And for those attempting to broker a ceasefire between the two belligerent parties, such as the United Nations, Egypt and the United States, it is important that they proceed with an impartial approach.