Statements from Egypt and Qatar did not specify the content of the response, but an official who asked to remain anonymous said Hamas had proposed a new timeframe for an indefinite ceasefire with Israel and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, including Rafah.

Asked for a response, a Hamas official, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “We have reiterated our position before. I believe there is no misunderstanding on this issue. Now the decision is in the hands of the Israeli authorities.”

Egyptian officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Egypt said Doha and Cairo, along with the United States, would continue efforts to negotiate until a ceasefire agreement is reached, adding that it would study the response and organize next steps with relevant parties.

Egypt's statement came shortly after Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad issued a statement expressing their "readiness to positively accept" the plan to end the war in Gaza and said they had sent their responses to Qatari and Egyptian mediators.

On Monday, the UN Security Council approved a proposal proposed by US President Joe Biden for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip.

On Friday, US President Joe Biden announced what he described as a “three-phase” proposal from Israel for a ceasefire in Gaza that includes negotiating an indefinite ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave as well as exchanging Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

Nguyen Quang Minh (according to Reuters)