Hamas accepts terms of Gaza ceasefire deal as Israel 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 Qatari and 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 urged 100,000 Palestinians to leave eastern Rafah ahead of a "limited" military operation. The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into southern Israel on 7 October, killing about 1,200 people and seizing 252 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. More than 34,700 people have been killed in Gaza since then, the Hamas-run health ministry says. Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news #Gaza #Israel #BBCNews