The United States is reviewing Hamas's response to the ceasefire proposal, renewing its calls on Israel not to attack the crowded Gaza town of Rafah.
"I can confirm that Hamas has issued a response. We are currently reviewing that response and discussing it with our partners in the region," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.
Earlier, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh informed mediators Qatar and Egypt that his Palestinian group had accepted their offer of a ceasefire in Gaza after nearly seven months of war.
Haniyeh spoke by phone with Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian Intelligence Minister Abbas Kamel "and informed them of Hamas' approval of their proposal regarding the ceasefire agreement," the group said in a statement posted on its official website.
However, a senior Hamas official stressed that "this does not mean that the ceasefire has already taken effect," pointing out that "the Israeli side has not yet communicated its position."
"The ball is now in the Israeli occupation's court, whether it will agree to the ceasefire or prevent it," another senior official told AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the negotiations.
Hamas's statement came as Israel urged Palestinians to leave eastern Rafah ahead of a ground invasion of the southern Gaza city, amid growing global concern about the consequences of such a move.
On the other hand, an Israeli official said no ceasefire agreement had been reached in Gaza, Reuters reported.
The Israeli official said the offer that Hamas accepted was a "watered down" version of the Egyptian proposal, which included "ambitious" conclusions that Israel could not accept.
"This looks like a ploy aimed at making Israel look like the party that refuses a deal," said the Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
In Rafah, crowds cheered and fired in the air in the streets after the Hamas announcement, an AFP correspondent reported.
People wept with happiness, chanted "Allah Akbar" (God is greatest) and fired in the air to celebrate the news, the correspondent said. / BGNES
