Hamas on Monday, May 6, announced its acceptance of a ceasefire proposal put forth by Egypt and Qatar, signaling a potential breakthrough in the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, conveyed the acceptance of the proposal to Qatar’s prime minister and Egypt’s intelligence chief, according to Reuters.

Despite Hamas’s acceptance of the ceasefire proposal, Israel has deemed it unacceptable. An Israeli official stated that no ceasefire agreement had been reached in Gaza, asserting that the proposal accepted by Hamas contained provisions that Israel could not endorse, according to Reuters.

The Israeli official characterised the proposal accepted by Hamas as a “softened” version of an Egyptian proposal, citing “far-reaching” conclusions that Israel deemed unacceptable.

On Monday, Israel’s military conducted aerial attacks over Rafah, prompting residents to flee with their belongings, including folded-up tents.

The Israeli authorities had ordered Palestinians to evacuate certain parts of Rafah, where over a million people have sought refuge following the recent hostilities.

In Rafah, concerns of a full-scale assault are mounting as Israel has long threatened decisive action against Hamas. The city, located on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip, has become a crucial sanctuary for nearly 2.3 million residents of Gaza.

The recent violence intensified following a rocket attack by Hamas fighters on Monday, which claimed the lives of four Israeli soldiers at the main border crossing into Rafah. In response, Israel conducted limited operations in the eastern part of Rafah, as reported by Reuters.

Hamas’s announcement of accepting the ceasefire proposal came shortly after Israel ordered the evacuation of parts of Rafah. The development marks the latest twist in the protracted conflict, with the prospects of a lasting ceasefire hanging in the balance.