US, Britain urge Hamas to accept Israeli truce proposal

Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been trying to mediate an agreement between Israel and Hamas for months.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday (Apr 29) urged Hamas to swiftly accept an Israeli proposal for a truce in the Gaza war and the release of Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian militant group.

Hamas negotiators were expected to meet Qatari and Egyptian mediators in Cairo on Monday to deliver a response to the phased truce proposal which Israel presented at the weekend.

A source briefed on the talks said Israel's proposal entailed a deal for the release of fewer than 40 of the roughly 130 hostages believed to be still held in Gaza in exchange for freeing Palestinians jailed in Israel.