Hamas says it is consulting other Palestinian groups before giving a formal response to the latest proposal for a new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal put forward by the US. President Donald Trump said on Friday morning that expected to know within 24 hours whether Hamas has agreed to the plan.

Hamas said it is seeking an end to the war and the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid as it is expected to announce a decision on a new U.S. ceasefire proposal to which U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel had agreed.

The rise of Izz al-Din al-Haddad in the chain of command suggests the group will hold firm to its position demanding a total end to the war before releasing all remaining hostages.

A former security contractor for Gaza's controversial new Israel- and US-backed aid distribution sites has told the BBC that he witnessed colleagues opening fire several times on hungry Palestinians who had posed no threat, including with machine guns.