Egyptian Prime Minister arrived to Rafah together with a delegation appointed by Egyptian Presidency that include members of his presidency team are expected to cross into Gaza at 10:00 am (8:00 GMT). The visit, the highest level Egyptian official to visit Gaza since Hamas took over the territory in 2007. He is expected to workout a ceasefire between Israel on one hand, and Palestinian resistance factions namely Hamas and Jihad.

Israel will suspend its offensive in the Gaza Strip on Friday during a brief visit by Egypt's premier there if militants refrain from firing rockets at Israel, an official said to AP, the first possible break in the escalating conflict.

An official in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the Israeli leader was responding to an Egyptian request.

The premier will be accompanied by a number of aides to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, as well as by Health Minister Mohamed Mustafa Hamed, Cairo said on Thursday after confirming the surprise visit.

Ahead of the announcement, Israeli warplanes carried out multiple new air strikes on the Palestinian territory, including several hits on Gaza City early Friday, the third day of an intensive campaign which the military has said is aimed at stamping out rocket fire on southern Israel.

"There have been 130 strikes overnight until now," Hamas interior ministry spokesman Islam Shahwan said, as AFP correspondents in Gaza City reported multiple raids.