Israel receives Hamas's response to Gaza truce proposal

People conduct rescue work after an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Dec 3, 2023. [Xinhua]

Israel received Hamas's response to a new ceasefire deal proposal from Qatari mediators on Thursday, an Israeli official confirmed to Xinhua.

David Barnea, chief of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, received the written response from Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, according to the official speaking on condition of anonymity.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office issued a statement, saying Hamas "continues to fortify itself with unfounded demands." The office added that the wartime Cabinet is expected to convene on Friday to discuss the proposal.

Despite the comment from the prime minister's office, the Israeli state-owned Kan TV news reported that the document includes a list of demands that Israel considers "reasonable."

Hamas confirmed in a statement that it has presented a "comprehensive vision" of a truce that includes a ceasefire and the release of hostages held in Gaza since the group launched its deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7 last year.