Hamas gives ‘first positive confirmation’ in a proposal for a humanitarian pause in its war with Israel and an exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman announced Thursday.

A new deal for a ceasefire and the release of hostages and Palestinians held by Israel is currently being considered, based on the proposal that emerged from a meeting in France last weekend between US, Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian officials.

“This proposal approved by the Israeli side, and now we have a first positive confirmation from Hamas,” Majed al-Ansari said.

“The road we have traveled is still very difficult. We are optimistic because both sides have accepted the conditions that could lead to an imminent pause. We hope that in the next two weeks we will be able to share good news on this matter “, he added.

A Hamas source in Gaza clarified, however, to AFP that there is still no consensus on the proposal.

“There is still no agreement on the framework of the proposal (…) and Qatar’s statement it’s hasty and false,” he said this source.

The media adviser to the head of the Islamist movement’s politburo told Reuters today that Hamas had received the ceasefire proposal for a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, but did not respond to either side. “We say that the current stage of the negotiation is zero and at the same time we cannot say that we have reached an agreement,” said Taher al-Nono.