Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh has said the group is studying a proposal for a truce in the nearly seven-month fighting raging in Gaza with a “positive spirit”, AFP reports.

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, and “stressed the positive spirit of the movement in studying the ceasefire proposal”, according to a statement on Hamas’s official website.

Haniyeh confirmed that the movement’s delegation would go back to Egypt “as soon as possible to complete the ongoing discussions”.

The aim of those talks, Haniyeh said, would be “reaching an agreement that fulfils the demands of our people and stops the aggression”.