Hamas on Saturday said that it has responded to a Gaza ceasefire plan put forward by the US, repeating its call for an end to the war, in a move the US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff called “totally unacceptable.

Gaza Hamas has said it is ready to immediately begin indirect talks on the remaining “points of contention” in a US ceasefire and hostage deal proposal, as mediators vow to increase efforts to reach a truce in Gaza.

Islamic group Hamas has announced its readiness to "immediately begin a round of indirect negotiations" with Israel for a ceasefire, amid stalled talks between the two sides.

Hamas has pushed for a permanent truce while Israel has held out for a temporary one. That wide gap has stymied efforts to end the war.

A senior Hamas official criticized the United States for treating Israel's demands as the "only response for negotiation," calling it a violation of "the integrity and fairness of mediation" in ceasefire talks.

The incident happened as Israel and Hamas traded blame for the faltering mediation bid to secure a temporary ceasefire.