Hamas ‘ready for a ceasefire’ but only if a deal ends the war in Gaza

Israel says it will only agree to end the war if Hamas surrenders, disarms and exiles itself, something the group refuses to do.

Kidney patients sit amid the destruction caused by the Israeli army at Shifa Hospital (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

Hamas has suggested it is open to a ceasefire agreement with Israel but insisted on its longstanding position that any deal must bring an end to the war in Gaza.

The militant group stopped short of accepting a US-backed proposal announced by Donald Trump hours earlier. The US president said on Tuesday that Israel had agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire and urged Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen.