Official statements from the Israeli government or major global news outlets

Hamas Accepts Egypt-Qatar Ceasefire; Israel's Response Pending

May 6, 2024, 05:07 PM

Hamas has officially accepted a ceasefire proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar, following intense negotiations. The agreement comes after Israel ordered the evacuation of Rafah, a town in southern Gaza, in anticipation of a military operation. Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas's political bureau, communicated the group's acceptance in phone calls with Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egypt's intelligence chief Abbas Kamel. A delegation from Hamas is expected to arrive in Cairo soon to finalize the details of the ceasefire agreement. The timing of Hamas's announcement, as Israel begins evacuating civilians from Rafah, is seen as a strategic move to pressure Israel, which has yet to respond.