Hamas ‘accepts proposal for ceasefire deal in Gaza’

After months of multiple negotiations, Hamas leadership has accepted the terms of a ceasefire deal in Gaza.

But initial reports appear to show that shortly after the ceasefire agreement – about which details are unknown – will be rejected by Israeli authorities as they intend to enter Rafah.

An official familiar with Israeli thinking says Israeli officials are examining the cease-fire proposal approved by Hamas. But the official warns that the plan approved by Hamas ‘is not the framework Israel proposed.’

Qatari and Egyptian mediators have reportedly been informed of the decision, and further details will be announced.

The news comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said an operation in Rafah will go forward.

A Hamas official has said that the ‘ball [is] now in Israel’s court’, with the country yet to respond to Hamas’ agreement.

Hamas statement in full

‘The mujahid brother Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the Hamas movement’s political bureau, had a phone call with the Qatari Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, and with the Egyptian Minister of Intelligence, Abbas Kamel, and informed them of the Hamas movement’s approval of their proposal regarding the ceasefire agreement.’

But Palestinians have begun celebrating on the streets of Rafah in hopes that the deal goes forward.

In recent days, Egyptian and Hamas officials said the ceasefire would take place in stages during which Hamas would release hostages it is holding in exchange for Israeli troop pullbacks from Gaza.

It is not clear whether the deal will meet Hamas’s key demand of bringing about an end to the war and complete Israeli withdrawal.

But fears of a ground invasion in Rafah are growing, with thousands expected to flee the region in Gaza in the coming days.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously warned about the looming invasion into Rafah – calling it part of Israel’s ‘bloody, systematic campaign to storm all areas of the Gaza Strip and displace its residents into the unknown’.

One Palestinian in Rafah told Al Jazeera: ’We want a political solution, not just a military solution. For that, we must struggle to have independence from the Israeli occupation and to stop the aggression in both Gaza and the West Bank.’

Channel 13 in Israel has said Hamas ‘accepted a watered-down Egyptian proposal’, which is not acceptable to the Israelis.

And earlier today, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told families of hostages that Hamas ‘rejected all proposals that would enable us to recover the prisoners’, and cited needing to begin an operation in Rafah.

This is a developing news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.

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