As Gaza ceasefire talks resume in Cairo, an Israeli official sets out four issues with the deal that Hamas says it agrees to
On Monday, Hamas said it backed a proposal put forward by Egyptian and Qatari mediators
But Israel said the proposal agreed by Hamas was not the same as the one it had already accepted
Israel objects to a proposal for "permanent" ceasefire, and says female soldiers would be released too late
It also says releasing bodies, rather than hostages, is not acceptable, and says Israel needs a veto on which prisoners it releases
The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into southern Israel on 7 October, killing about 1,200 people and seizing 252 hostages
More than 34,700 people have been killed in Gaza since then, the Hamas-run health ministry says
Footage shows the moment earlier on Monday when Israeli military planes dropped leaflets over eastern Rafah, in southern Gaza, telling residents to evacuate to the north.
About 100,000 people in the eastern part of the city of Rafah, closest to the Israeli border, are being urged to move to expanded humanitarian zones in the al-Mawasi and Khan Younis areas.
Image source, Getty ImagesPalestinians have been fleeing the southern Gaza city of Rafah after warnings from Israeli forces that the city would be targeted in a "limited operation"
Image source, Getty ImagesDisplaced Palestinians arrive with their belongings in Khan Yunis, to the north of Rafah
Image source, ReutersCrowds in Rafah celebrate reports that Hamas has agreed to ceasefire proposal terms brokered by Egyptian and Qatari mediators
Image source, ReutersSmoke rises from buildings following Israeli strikes on Rafah on Monday
As strikes continue in Rafah, Israeli forces have been telling Palestinians to evacuate the city.
At a news briefing, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Gazans had been urged to move towards an “expanded humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi and Khan Yunis” – about 10km to the north.
He said: "Tonight, we also call upon those staying in specific areas which we have communicated and defined through every means - radio, media, internet, and flyers" in eastern Rafah to leave.
Rafah is Hamas's last stronghold in Gaza, and packed with displaced civilians.
The prospect of an Israeli invasion has caused an international outcry, with foreign leaders urging Netanyahu to not go ahead with the offensive.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said the consequences would be devastating for more than a million people.
It's 22:00 in London and midnight in the Middle East where there's been a flurry of events in recent hours – here’s a recap of the latest developments:
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad's armed wing said its militants had launched rockets from Gaza towards southern Israel Monday in response to Israeli air strikes on the Palestinian territory.
"We have targeted Sderot, Nir Am, and settlements in the Gaza envelope with rocket barrages," it said in a statement, translated by the AFP new agency.
The "Gaza envelope" refers to a zone of southern Israel close to Gaza.
The PIJ is Gaza's second largest armed faction and - like Hamas - a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK and other countries.
As we've been reporting, sirens sounded in southern Israeli a short while ago with pictures showing the Iron Dome defence system intercepting missiles heading for Israel.
Image source, REUTERS/Amir CohenWe've just received these pictures from the Reuters news agency, which appear to show the moment missiles launched from Gaza are intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome system.
Iron Dome is designed to protect against incoming short-range weapons and uses radar to track rockets.
Image source, REUTERS/Amir CohenA red alert for rockets is in place in Sderot, Ibim, Nir Am, Mefalsim, Gavim and Sapir College, all of which are located near to Gaza in southern Israel. It is according to real-time warning account @ILRedAlert on X, formerly known as Twitter, external.
The red alert system is Israel's official source for rocket attacks fired at the country, which millions of Israelis rely on daily. Hamas has continued firing rockets at Israel since the 7 October attacks and the start of the war in Gaza.
Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockFamilies of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have taken to the streets of Tel Aviv to demand the government take the "opportunity" of a truce deal, to bring the hostages back home.
The Hostage Families and Missing Families Forum said in a statement, "now is the time for all that are involved to fulfil their commitment and turn this opportunity into a deal for the return of all the hostages".
Hamas says it has approved a ceasefire deal for Gaza put forward by Qatari and Egyptian mediators but the terms of the deal are not completely clear and Netanyahu says it is 'far from meeting Israel's demands".
The Israeli Prime Minister has said a delegation will go to negotiate further.
As our security correspondent Frank Gardner reported earlier, protests in Israel's cities have been ongoing for many months, with many of those taking to the streets saying the don't believe the Israeli government is doing enough.
128 hostages remain unaccounted for, with at least 34 presumed dead following the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October.
Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
Image source, Reuters
Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockProtesters also gathered outside the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv
Image source, ReutersSome more reaction now, this time from UN secretary-general António Guterres, who calls on Israel's government and Hamas leadership "to go the extra mile" to come to an agreement.
The statement, via a spokesperson, says Guterres is deeply concerned by the indications that a large-scale military operation in Rafah may be imminent.
He also offers a reminder to Israel and Hamas that the protection of civilians is "paramount in international humanitarian law".
Nick Johnson
Reporting from Jerusalem
An Israeli hostage's family has been reacting to news that Hamas accepted a ceasefire proposal with Israel.
Yocheved Lifschitz, 85, was taken by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel on 7 October. She was freed on humanitarian grounds at the end of October 2023.
Her husband, 84-year-old Oded, is still being held captive. Responding to the news that Hamas has accepted this truce deal, their daughter, Sharone, says the Israeli government "must accept" it too.
“We’ve already lost so much,” Sharone says, adding those who are still alive and being held captive "must come home now".
“Government officials who say the hostages are the priority must now show it," she adds.
Sharone was speaking before it came through that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu had issues with the deal.
Sharone and her father Oded
While attacks are continuing on Rafah this evening, Israel says it is planning to send a delegation to negotiate the ceasefire deal further after saying it was "far from meeting Israel's demands".
This was confirmed by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday.
Mediations which have resulted in the offer from Hamas have been led by Egypt, with involvement from Qatar.
It is not clear what exactly Hamas have agreed to as part of the deal, but it is thought to include the release of hostages and return of displaced Palestinians within Gaza.
Israel's Defense Force has announced that it is conducting "targeted strikes" against Hamas in eastern Rafah.
The IDF has promised more details on these strikes soon – we will bring you those as soon as we get them.
Following a flurry of activity around Hamas accepting a ceasefire plan, it now seems like it will have little effect on the current operation in Rafah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the country's war cabinet has decided to continue the campaign, in an effort to pressure Hamas to release hostages.
He says while the proposal put forward does not meet Israel's demands, a working delegation will be sent to negotiate.
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House
We've got some more to bring you now from the White House news conference that's been going on (see our last few posts).
In addition to a series of questions on Rafah and a potential ceasefire, US national security spokesman John Kirby was asked about the Israeli move to shut down Al Jazeera's network in the country.
In response, Kirby says the US does "not support" that action, remarking that the work of a free press is vital. "It's important to help inform the policy making process," he adds.
The Israeli move against Al Jazeera - and the Israeli raid on its headquarters in Jerusalem - was not a focus of discussion of the call between Biden and Netanyahu earlier, Kirby says.
"The focus of the call was on a hostage deal and Rafah."
Rushdi Abualouf
Gaza correspondent
A senior Palestinian official, familiar with the ceasefire agreement, says Hamas has agreed to end “hostile activity forever” if the conditions of the truce are met.
The phrase hints that Hamas may be contemplating the end of its armed struggle, although no further details have been provided, and would come at the conclusion of a two-phase ceasefire deal.
Each phase would last 42 days, and the second stage would conclude with a “sustainable long period of calm” and the complete lifting of the blockade of Gaza.
The first stage will include the remaining Israeli female soldiers currently held hostage, who will be released in exchange for 50 Palestinian prisoners each, including some who are serving life sentences.
During this period, Israeli troops will remain within Gaza - but within 11 days of the ceasefire coming into force, Israel will begin dismantling its military facilities in the centre of the Gaza Strip and will withdraw from Salahuddin Road and Coastal Road.
After 11 days, Palestinians will be allowed to return to the north of the Gaza strip.
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House
Faced with a barrage of questions from the White House press corps on the possibility of a ceasefire deal, Kirby says the talks between Israel and Hamas are at a "critical" and "sensitive" stage.
"I don't know that it gets any more sensitive than right now," he adds.
When asked whether the success - or failure - of the talks is now dependent on Israel, Kirby says "it's going to depend on what the [Hamas] response actually says".
Additionally, Kirby says the US was not aware ahead of time that a Hamas response would come when it did.
"We certainly hoped there would be word today," he tells reporters, "but did we know the exact moment? No."
That was an interesting bit of information from national security spokesman John Kirby, who says US President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recent hours.
The call occurred before Hamas said it had accepted a ceasefire proposal, though, so while Biden and Netanyahu did discuss potential hostage release deals - they may not have discussed this particular one, Kirby explains.
He adds that Biden has "consistently" encouraged Netanyahu to get a hostage release deal secured during their calls.
Image source, ReutersWe're still listening in to that White House news conference we mentioned in our last post - where John Kirby's continuing to answer questions from reporters.
Kirby's just been explaining to those gathered that what Hamas says it's accepted - and Israel says it's reviewing - may not necessarily be a final ceasefire deal.
“We get a response by Hamas, we’re going to evaluate that. The Israelis must have a chance to look at this," he says.
Kirby goes on to say that discussions are taking place with regional partners: “I’m sure we’d all like to have an answer as soon as possible, but I don’t want to get ahead of that process.”
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House
The US government is "reviewing" Hamas's acceptance of a ceasefire deal, according to White House national security spokesman John Kirby.
At the start of a news briefing at the White House, Kirby declined to give more details on the US assessment of ongoing ceasefire talks, adding that doing so could endanger the deal.
"The last thing I want to do is say anything at that podium that will put that process at risk," he said, adding that the Biden administration would "not stop working" on a ceasefire.
When asked by a reporter, Kirby also declined to comment on what aspects of the deal Hamas agreed to.
He added that the Hamas statement came after, and "as a result of", ceasefire talks that CIA Director William Burns has had in the region in recent days.
Footage gathered for the BBC shows the moment some Palestinians in al-Saboura, central Rafah, found out about Hamas’s decision to accept a ceasefire proposal a little earlier.
Crowds of people were filmed cheering and celebrating. Children chant, along with adults, and walk down a road - some hand in hand.
It's worth reiterating that we don't yet know exactly what the group has agreed to - and whether Israel will give its backing to the plan.
Watch here:
Palestinians in Rafah cheer after hearing of truce deal accepted by Hamas