Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh claimed on Tuesday that a ceasefire agreement with Israel was “close”.
“The movement has submitted its response to the brothers in Qatar and the mediators, and we are close to a ceasefire agreement,” Haniyeh said on Telegram, without giving further details.
It is worth noting that several relatives of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas withdrew from a meeting with members of the Israeli government on Monday evening.
The Israeli daily Haaretz reported that “many relatives of Israelis held hostage by Hamas in Gaza walked out of a meeting with members of the wartime government on Monday, expressing disappointment when they were told that the goals of freeing the hostages and toppling Hamas were equally important”.
Since Israel began bombing Gaza after a surprise attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on 7 October, at least 13,000 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 9,000 women and children, and more than 30,000 others injured, according to the latest figures from the Palestinian authorities.
Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques and churches, have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel’s relentless air and ground assault on the besieged enclave.
An Israeli blockade has also cut off Gaza’s fuel, electricity and water supplies and reduced aid deliveries to a trickle.
The Israeli death toll stands at around 1,200, according to official figures.
Tel Aviv has so far rejected growing calls for a ceasefire until hostages held by Hamas are released.