The Palestinian organization Hamas and its ally, the Islamic Jihad, have approved the agreement being negotiated in Doha for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages, two Palestinian sources close to the talks told Agence France-Presse.

“The resistance groups reached an agreement among themselves and informed the mediators that they approved the agreement to exchange (the hostages for Palestinian prisoners) and the ceasefire,” said one of those sources, who spoke by telephone from Cairo.

A second Palestinian source close to the talks confirmed this statement.

According to Reuters, which also cited an unnamed Palestinian official, Hamas has given its verbal approval to the deal and is awaiting more information before giving its final, written approval.