Hamas accepts terms of Gaza ceasefire deal asIsrael 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 Qatariand 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 urged100,000 Palestinians to leave eastern Rafah ahead of a "limited" military operation.

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

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