Hamas announced Sunday evening its willingness to immediately engage in indirect negotiations with Israel to resolve outstanding issues and secure a permanent ceasefire aimed at ending the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

The announcement follows the group’s formal response to a ceasefire proposal put forward by U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Both Witkoff and the Israeli government have since rejected Hamas’s reply.

In a statement published on its official Telegram channel, Hamas reaffirmed its support for continued mediation efforts by Qatar and Egypt, welcoming their “ongoing efforts to end the war waged by the Zionist occupation against our people in Gaza.”

The declaration comes amid growing regional and international pressure to halt months of deadly Israeli airstrikes on the enclave, which have triggered a deepening humanitarian catastrophe and widespread civilian suffering.

Hamas’s statement signals a potential opening for renewed diplomatic efforts, despite persistent obstacles and stark divisions between the parties involved.