Hamas said it is seeking an end to the war and the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid as it is expected to announce a decision on a new U.S. ceasefire proposal to which U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel had agreed.

Israel is intensifying military operations in one of the last Hamas strongholds in Gaza, as the sides stake out positions before ceasefire negotiations proposed by US President Donald Trump.The escalation comes as Hamas weighs  a call by Trump to enter a 60—day ceasefire during which it would return half of the 50 hostages it still holds and pursue mediated talks with Israel to end the war.

The U.S. President said Israel “agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize” a 60-day ceasefire, “during which time we will work with all parties to end the war.”