Hamas has provided feedback on a US-endorsed Gaza ceasefire proposal and a plan for swapping captives for prisoners, according to Qatari and Egyptian mediators.

Hamas and the Islamic Jihad (PIJ) issued a joint statement affirming their willingness to "act constructively to reach an agreement," emphasizing the need to halt Israel's ongoing attacks on Gaza.

Senior Hamas figure Osama Hamdan informed Lebanon's Al-Mayadeen TV that they had conveyed "comments" on the proposal to mediators, though specifics were not disclosed.

A Hamas representative reiterated to Reuters that "any accord must terminate the Zionist aggression, withdraw Israeli forces, rebuild Gaza, and secure a significant prisoner exchange deal."

The foreign ministries of Qatar and Egypt mentioned in a joint statement that they are reviewing the feedback and will maintain their mediation efforts alongside the US "until a deal is achieved."

White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby confirmed that the US is also evaluating Hamas's response.

Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan noted that leaders from Hamas and PIJ indicated that their response included amendments.

"The amendments demand a full withdrawal from Gaza, including the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi Corridor," Khan specified.

Blinken's consultation in Israel involved discussions aimed at halting the eight-month-long Israeli offensive in Gaza, following a US-supported truce proposal's approval by the UN Security Council.

‘We will believe it only when we see it’

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's Middle East visit, aiming to secure a ceasefire and post-war reconstruction strategies, included talks with Israel and Egypt officials.

Blinken's discussions in Israel covered numerous topics, including efforts to prevent border clashes with Hezbollah from escalating into full-scale conflict.

During a conference in Jordan, Blinken announced $404 million in aid for Palestinians and urged additional donor contributions.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi called for international pressure on Israel to cease utilizing hunger as a tactic and ensure aid delivery to Gaza.

Amid growing global criticism of the devastation and humanitarian crisis inflicted by Israel's offensive, US President Joe Biden has repeatedly announced imminent ceasefires with limited success, as only one brief truce occurred in November.

Biden's plan involves a gradual cessation of hostilities paired with a phased detainee exchange.

Palestinians in Gaza expressed skepticism over the Security Council's vote, preferring tangible outcomes before trusting such initiatives.

The UN's human rights office reported potential war crimes by both Israeli forces and Palestinian groups during a deadly Israeli raid in Nuseirat refugee camp.

Concurrently, Palestinians reported new Israeli military actions in Rafah and Gaza City, heightening the already severe humanitarian crisis.

With over 37,100 fatalities from the ongoing assault, Gaza's residents face acute hunger and a potential famine as Israeli blockades severely restrict essential supplies. UN agencies project that by mid-July, over a million Gazans could suffer from extreme starvation.

Israel's military campaign followed an October 7 attack by Hamas militants, resulting in over 1,139 Israeli deaths and approximately 250 abductions, as per Al Jazeera's compilation of official Israeli data.