Hamas 'is ready to agree ceasefire' if it would lead to permanent end of war

Hamas leaders were close to accepting a ceasefire deal in Gaza but wanted guarantees that any pause in hostilities would lead to a permanent end to the 20-month war, sources close to the group said yesterday.

- Jason Burke

Hamas officials issued a statement confirming they were talking to other "Palestinian factions" before formally announcing a response to new ceasefire proposals already accepted by Israel.

The militant Islamist group has come under immense pressure in recent months, with its military leadership decimated and the Israeli military forcing its fighters out of former strongholds in southern and central Gaza.

In recent days, Israel has ramped up its offensive, launching an intense wave of airstrikes across Gaza, killing more than 250 Palestinians, including many women and children, according to medical and civil defence officials.

Hardline factions within Hamas have reluctantly accepted the need for a ceasefire to allow the organisation to regroup and plan a new strategy, one source familiar with the internal debate said.

Since a previous ceasefire collapsed in March when Israel resumed airstrikes, more than 6,000 people have been killed in Gaza as an acute humanitarian crisis worsened.

On Tuesday, Donald Trump announced that Israel had accepted the conditions needed to finalise a 60-day ceasefire during which the parties would work to end the war.

When asked on Thursday if Hamas had agreed to the ceasefire deal framework, he said: "We are going to know over the next 24 hours."

Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to fly to Washington tomorrow for talks with Trump about the war in Gaza, Israel's recent conflict with Iran and other regional issues.