Qatar says most of proposal agreed by Hamas was previously agreed by Israel
DOHA : Mediator Qatar said on Tuesday that a Gaza truce proposal given the green light by militant group Hamas was 'almost identical' to an earlier version that Israel had agreed to.
Hamas gave a 'very positive response, and it truly was almost identical to what the Israeli side had previously agreed to,' Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told reporters, without elaborating on what changes had been made to the accepted proposal.
Qatar, with Egypt and the US, has been engaged in mediation for a ceasefire throughout the 22-month war in Gaza, but apart from two short-lived truces, the talks have failed to stop the fighting.
Hopes for a deal were rekindled on Monday after Hamas said it had accepted a new ceasefire proposal for Gaza following a push by Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo.
The previous round of mediation for a deal in Doha broke down in July, with Israel agreeing to a truce proposal but then rejecting Hamas amendments.
'We cannot make any claims that a breakthrough has been made. But we do believe it is a positive point,' Ansari added.
'We are at a decisive humanitarian moment. If we don't reach a deal now, we will face a humanitarian catastrophe that will make all those that preceded it pale in comparison,' the spokesman added.
Negotiations in recent months have focused on a framework for an initial 60-day truce and the staggered release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, which was first proposed by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
Ansari confirmed the current proposal included the two-month truce as well as provisions to allow for the entry of aid.
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