A high-ranking Hamas official says the Palestinian resistance movement is ready and determined to enter a new round of indirect negotiations with Israel, with the aim of ending the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and reaching a permanent ceasefire.

“We are ready and serious to reach an agreement in case factors required for ending the war are clearly stated. We will be prepared to agree to any proposal,” Taher al-Nunu stated.

He, however, added that Bishara Bahbah, a Palestinian-American political activist who has been mediating between the Trump administration and Hamas, does not have the qualifications to be a mediator and is not suitable for the role.

The senior Hamas official noted that Bahbah, who led the group “Arab Americans for Trump” during the 2024 presidential campaign, does not have an intermediary role.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid al-Ansari said on Monday that the Persian Gulf kingdom is seeking to resume negotiations between Israel and Hamas to reach a Gaza ceasefire.

“There are no talks regarding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip,” Ansari told a press conference in Doha.

“Communications are underway to reach a formula to return to negotiations,” he added, without elaborating.

“We see positive language from Washington regarding reaching an agreement in Gaza, and there are serious intentions from them to push towards resuming negotiations on Gaza, but there are complications,” the spokesman said.

The remarks came a day after Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said that Cairo is working on a new Gaza deal that includes a 60-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of some Israeli captives and the rapid entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged coastal territory.

“Israel’s stubbornness prevents the entry of aid to Gaza. It is unacceptable to continue linking the humanitarian and military sides in Gaza,” he stated.

At least 56,531 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and another 133,642 individuals injured in the brutal Israeli onslaught on Gaza since October 7, 2023.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the besieged coastal territory.