Hamas accepts Gaza ceasefire proposal from Egypt, Qatar

CAIRO: Hamas has accepted a ceasefire deal in the Gaza war put forward by mediators Qatar and Egypt, the Palestinian group says, although Israel has yet to comment on the proposal.

In a statement on Monday, Hamas said the head of its political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, told the prime minister of Qatar and the Egyptian intelligence minister, Mr Abbas Kamel, that the group had accepted their proposal.

Khalil al-Hayya, a member of the group’s political bureau, told Al Jazeera Arabic that the Qatari-Egyptian proposal for the Gaza war ceasefire includes a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a return of displaced Palestinians to their homes, as well as an exchange of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners.

READ MORE: Hamas delegation heads to Egypt for do or die; Gaza ceasefire talks

These will take place in phases, according to al-Hayya. In the first phase, indirect negotiations through mediators will resume on the exchange of captives and prisoners. A withdrawal of some Israeli troops from certain areas will also take place, as well as the unhindered return of displaced families to their homes, and the flow of aid, fuel, and relief materials into Gaza, he said.

In the second phase of the agreement, al-Hayya said an announcement of a complete and permanent halt to all military activity in Gaza is expected to take place. “The ball is now in Israel’s court”, he said.

Meanwhile, the US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Washington will “withhold judgment” on Hamas’s response to the proposal until it has time to fully review it.

“I can confirm that Hamas has issued a response. We are reviewing that response now and discussing it with our partners in the region,” he said. “It’s something that is a top priority for everyone in this administration from the president on down,” Miller added.