Hamas accepts terms of Gaza ceasefire deal as Israel readies Rafah operation | BBC News

The Hamas leadership says it has accepted the terms of a ceasefire deal in Gaza.

In a statement, the group says it has informed Qatari and Egyptian mediators of its decision.

An Israeli official has said that Hamas has approved a "softened" Egyptian proposal that is not acceptable to Israel," Reuters reports.

The announcement comes as Israel has urged 100,000 Palestinians to leave eastern Rafah ahead of a "limited" military operation.

The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into southern Israel on 7 October, killing about 1,200 people and seizing 252 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

More than 34,700 people have been killed in Gaza since then, the Hamas-run health ministry says.

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