Hamas issued a statement on Friday expressing their approval of a proposal put forward by US President Joe Biden for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.
Joe Biden has urged Hamas to accept a new peace deal proposed by Israel, which includes a permanent ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, release of all hostages, and long-term reconstruction of the area.
A senior administration official stated that the four-and-a-half page proposal had received endorsement from the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu and was presented to Hamas on Friday.
Biden said the initial phase of the peace plan spans six weeks, during which there would be a ceasefire and Israeli forces would withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza.
Hamas would release “a number of hostages,” including women, elderly, and wounded individuals, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.