Speaking in Cairo, Mr Meshal said that Mr Netanyahu had called for a truce after "the weapons of the resistance have caught the enemy off guard". Shortly afterwards, Israel issued a denial that it had requested the ceasefire.
Truce talks being brokered by Egypt are ongoing.
Other developments in the almost week-long crisis included reports that the Lebanese army has dismantled two rockets in southern Lebanon which were apparently aimed at Israel, security sources told Reuters.
In the latest Israeli airstrikes, 10 civilians and two Hamas field commanders have been killed according to hospital officials. The latest deaths bring the number killed in six days of clashes to 85.
The UN secretary general visited Egypt on Monday for talks with Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, the foreign ministry in Cairo said. UN diplomats said Mr Ban was to visit Egypt and Israel to push for an end to the fighting.
"I am heading to the region to appeal personally for ending the violence and contribute to ongoing efforts to that end," he said in a statement.
"Any further escalation will inevitably increase the suffering of the affected civilian populations and must be avoided."
The UN secretary general has already called on Israel and Hamas to "stop this dangerous escalation" in the Gaza Strip to avoid further bloodshed in Israel and the Palestinian territories, calling the rocket attacks unacceptable.
