DELEGATES from Hamas were reportedly returning to Egypt yesterday as they considered the latest Israeli ceasefire proposal.

This comes as Israeli forces stepped up their relentless bombardment of central Gaza as they prepare for a promised assault on the town of Rafah in the south. 

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said the group received Israel’s latest ceasefire proposal on Saturday and were adopting a “positive spirit” towards studying the position.

But Hamas has insisted it won’t sign onto the deal without assurances that, if it eventually releases all its hostages, Israel will end its onslaught in Gaza and pull its troops out of the territory.

The proposal, mediated by the United States and Egypt — apparently with Israel’s acceptance — sets out a three-stage process that will bring an immediate six-week ceasefire and partial hostage release.

Egyptian officials report that the talks also include proposals over a “permanent calm” that includes some sort of Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

If Israel does agree to end the war in return for a full hostage release, it would be a major turnaround. 

Since the October 7 attack during which 1,200 people were killed and around 250 taken hostage, Israel’s leaders have vowed not to stop their bombardment and ground offensives until the militant group is destroyed. 

The Israeli retaliation has killed at least 34,596 Palestinians and has failed to quell the resistance from Hamas.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was in Israel on a regional tour to push the deal through, said Israel had made “very important” compromises.

“There’s no time for further haggling. The deal is there,” Mr Blinken said on Wednesday before returning to the US.

Hanging over the negotiations is the threat of an Israeli attack on Rafah, which the US and UN have warned could be catastrophic for Palestinian civilians. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that even if a ceasefire is reached, Israel will eventually attack Rafah, which he says is Hamas’s last stronghold in Gaza.

More than half Gaza’s population has crowded into makeshift shelters in and around Rafah.

US officials say they oppose a major offensive in Rafah but that if Israel conducts one, it must first evacuate civilians. Israel has said it is developing plans for a mass evacuation of civilians.

Meanwhile the battle between Hamas and the Israelis rages on in central Gaza.

According to eye-witnesses, the Nuseirat refugee camp is reportedly facing constant bombardment.

There are also local reports of fierce fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas in the al-Mughraqa area, nearly four miles south of Gaza City.