'Gave positive response': Hamas on latest ceasefire proposal to end Gaza war

Hamas said on Friday it has given a “positive” response to the latest proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza but called for further talks to implement an agreement, if reached."Hamas has submitted its positive response to the Egyptian and Qatari mediators. We are fully prepared to immediately enter into a round of negotiations regarding the mechanism for implementing this framework,” its statement read, according to The Associated Press.However, the statement did not elaborate on what needed to be worked out in implementation. Also, it was not clear if the statement meant it had accepted the proposal from US President Donald Trump for a 60-day ceasefire.Also Read: Israeli strike kills 20 in Gaza; Trump says expects Hamas reply to truce proposal soon“We'll see what happens. We're going to know over the next 24 hours,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One late Thursday when asked if Hamas had agreed to the latest framework for a ceasefire.The Palestinian militant group, which controls Gaza, has been seeking guarantees that the initial truce would lead to a total end to the war, which began with its attacks inside Israel on October 7, 2023, and the latter's subsequent military retaliation. Trump has been pushing hard for a deal, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to visit the White House next week to discuss a deal.Also Read: Israel says releasing hostages 'opportunity' for Gaza; Hamas insists on full end to warAccording to an official close to the talks, the group has put forth certain demands — that Israeli troops in Gaza pull back to positions held on March 2, before it broke the previous ceasefire (agreed and implemented in January); that aid flow into Gaza in sufficient quantities through the United Nations and other international humanitarian agencies; and that negotiations continue beyond 60 days if needed to reach a deal for a permanent end to the war and the release of all remaining hostages.Out of the 251 hostages seized by Hamas during the October 2023 attack, 49 are still held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.Also Read: Izz al-Din al-Haddad is Hamas' new de facto chief in GazaPrevious rounds of negotiations have run aground over Hamas demands of guarantees that further negotiations would lead to the war's end, while Netanyahu has insisted Israel would resume fighting to ensure the destruction of the militant group.