War: Hamas agrees to Gaza ceasefire proposal

The Palestinian militant group, Hamas' chief, Khalil al-Hayya, on Saturday, said Hamas has agreed to a Gaza ceasefire proposal it received two days ago from mediators Egypt and Qatar.

Hayya, in a televised speech said, two days ago, they received a proposal from the mediators in Egypt and Qatar, adding that they dealt with it positively and accepted it.

Hayya, who leads the Hamas negotiating team in indirect talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in the Hamas-Israel war in Gaza that erupted in October 2023 said they hope that the Israeli occupation would not undermine it.

It was gathered on Thursday that Egypt had received positive indications from Israel over a new ceasefire proposal that would include a transitional phase.

The proposal suggests Hamas release five of the Israeli hostages it is holding each week.

According to the Israeli prime minister's office, it had held a series of consultations according to the proposal that was received from the mediators, and that Israel had conveyed to the mediators a counter-proposal in full coordination with the United States.

When asked if it had also agreed to the ceasefire proposal, the prime minister's office did not immediately respond.

DAILY POST reports that the first phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into force on January 19 after 15 months of war and involved a halt to fighting, the release of some of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and the freeing of some Palestinian prisoners.

It was gathered that phase two of the three-phase deal is intended to focus on agreements on the release of the remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

According to Hamas, any proposals must allow the launch of the second phase, while Israel has offered to expand the first 42-day phase.

In response to calls on Hamas to disarm by Israel and the United States, Hayya said the group's arsenal was a red line and that it would not disarm as long as the Israeli occupation exists.

Israel and the US said that Hamas must not have a role in post-war Gaza arrangements.

Health authorities said Israeli military strikes on Gaza continued on Saturday, killing at least 20 Palestinians across the enclave.