GAZA, April 10 (Reuters) - The Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers said on Sunday they wanted to end the recent round of fighting with Israel after Israel's defense minister signaled willingness to agree to a ceasefire.

The Palestinian factions are not interested in escalation, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters. If the Israeli aggression stopped, it would be natural for calm to be restored.

The death toll since Israel launched its retaliation for an attack on a school bus that critically wounded a teenager on Thursday has climbed to 19 Palestinian militants and civilians.

Gaza militants have fired at least 120 rockets and mortars at southern Israel in that time, the Israeli army said.

(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi)