Hamas ready to start Gaza ceasefire talks 'immediately'

GAZA CITY (Palestinian Territories) July 5 (AFP): Hamas said Friday it was ready to start talks "immediately" on a proposal for a ceasefire with Israel in Gaza, after holding consultations with other Palestinian factions.

"The movement is ready to engage immediately and seriously in a cycle of negotiations on the mechanism to put in place" the terms of a draft truce proposal received from mediators, the militant group said in a statement.

US President Donald Trump said Friday there "could be a Gaza deal" next week and that he was optimistic, although the situation could change.

Asked aboard Air Force One how optimistic he was about a ceasefire deal, Trump said "very," but added "it changes day to day".

In response to reports Hamas had responded positively to proposed truce talks, he said: "That's good. They haven't briefed me on it. We have to get it over with. We have to do something about Gaza."