Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said a proposal for a new Gaza ceasefire is far from Israel’s basic requirements but negotiations will continue.

Netanyahu’s comment comes after Hamas said it has accepted the truce terms offered by Qatari and Egyptian mediators. A senior Palestinian official told newsmen that Hamas had agreed to end hostile activity forever if the conditions were met, although no further details were provided.

However, Netanyahu says even though the Hamas proposal is far from Israel’s basic requirements, Israel will send a delegation of mediators to exhaust the possibility of reaching an agreement under conditions acceptable to Israel.

Reports say Israeli forces and tanks were seen near the Rafah border crossing in southern Gaza where Israel’s military had earlier on carried out air strikes after warning Palestinians to evacuate eastern parts of the city.

Tens of thousands of residents are believed to be affected by the operation.