Hamas has shown a positive response to a ceasefire proposal described as almost identical to a US plan. Israel has not responded and continues preparing a Gaza City offensive, with military officials expecting to finalise plans in coming days. Mediators from Qatar and Egypt are urging urgent talks and pushing for phased or 60-day ceasefire arrangements that would include partial hostage releases and negotiations for a lasting ceasefire. Concerns persist that an expanded assault could endanger hundreds of thousands of civilians and the remaining hostages, with many Palestinians seeing no safe areas and Israelis fearing further risks to hostages.
The latest comes as a key mediator has stressed the urgency of brokering a ceasefire in Gaza after Hamas showed a "positive response" to a proposal. But Israel has yet to weigh in as its military continues to prepare an offensive on some of the territory's most populated areas. The prospect of an expanded assault on areas sheltering hundreds of thousands of civilians has sparked condemnation inside Israel and abroad.
"If this [ceasefire] proposal fails, the crisis will exacerbate," Majed al-Ansari, a spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry, told journalists, adding they have yet to hear from Israel on it. Mr al-Ansari said Hamas had agreed to terms under discussion. He declined to provide details but said the proposal was "almost identical" to one previously advanced by US envoy Steve Witkoff.
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