Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said on Thursday the Palestinian group was studying a proposal for a truce in the nearly seven-month war raging in Gaza with a "positive spirit".
In a call to Egypt's intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, Haniyeh said he "appreciated the role played by Egypt", which, along with Qatar and the United States, is mediating the talks. He also "stressed the positive spirit of the movement in studying the ceasefire proposal," according to a statement on Hamas's official website.
The mediators have proposed a truce deal that would halt fighting for 40 days and exchange dozens of hostages for many more Palestinian prisoners, according to Britain.