Ismail Haniyeh, the Qatar-based political leader of Hamas, has said that the Palestinian group is ready to welcome “any document or initiative that ensures the foundations of the resistance’s position in ceasefire negotiations”, Al Jazeera reports quoting the AFP news agency.

“The priority is to stop the criminal war on our people,” he added.

Hamas has demanded that Israeli forces completely withdraw from Gaza and agree to a permanent ceasefire before the group will agree to release all of the captives sought by Israel.

The Israeli government has said that it won’t end its military offensive in Gaza until it has destroyed the Palestinian group.