HAMAS has agreed to a proposal by United States special envoy Steve Witkoff for a Gaza ceasefire, a Palestinian official close to the group told the Reuters news agency today.

The deal could pave the way for a possible end to Israel’s war on the Palestinians in Gaza.

The proposal, which involves the release of 10 hostages and 70 days of truce, was received by Hamas through mediators.

The possible deal would see the release of 10 living Israeli hostages in return for a 70-day ceasefire and a partial withdrawal of the Israelis from the Gaza Strip, a source close to Hamas reported.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the deal, if agreed by Israel, would see the release of an as yet unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners by Israel.

There was no immediate comment from Israel.

Meanwhile, Israel continued to pound Gaza today, killing at least 52 people, including 36 sleeping in a school-turned-shelter, local health officials said. 

The Israeli military claimed, without evidence, that its latest air attack on Gaza targeted militants operating from the school.

The strike on the school in the Daraj neighbourhood of Gaza City also wounded dozens of people, said Fahmy Awad, head of the ministry’s emergency service. 

He said that a father and his five children were among the dead. The Shifa and al-Ahli hospitals in Gaza City confirmed the overall toll.

Mr Awad said that the school was hit three times while people slept. Footage showed rescuers recovering charred remains from the debris.

Israel renewed its offensive in March after ending a ceasefire with Hamas. It has vowed to seize control of Gaza and keep fighting until Hamas is destroyed and returns the remaining 58 hostages from the October 7 2023 attack.

Israel began allowing a trickle of humanitarian aid into Gaza last week after blocking all food, medicine, fuel or other goods from entering for two-and-a-half months. 

A US-backed group said today that it still plans to begin aid distribution in Gaza after its director resigns.

Jake Wood said that he was resigning because the organisation would not be allowed to operate independently.

Far-right Israeli settlers gathered in Jerusalem today for an annual procession marking Israel’s 1967 conquest of the city’s eastern sector. 

They were joined by Yulia Malinovsky, one of the legislators behind an Israeli law that banned the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, as some protesters chanted ”death to Arabs” and harassed Palestinian residents.