GAZA, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Hamas said on Monday that it is engaging positively with mediators and responding to their proposals aimed at halting the ongoing hostilities in Gaza.

Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha said in a press statement that "efforts, discussions, and deliberations with the mediators are continuing to address and overcome obstacles" to restoring calm in the Gaza Strip.

Taha pointed out that the Israeli government's behavior "demonstrates a lack of respect for the efforts and endeavors of the mediators, who are making great efforts to reach a cessation of aggression."

Earlier on Monday, two informed Egyptian security sources told Xinhua that Egypt on Sunday night presented a new "urgent" proposal to Israel and Hamas aimed at "ending the war and resuming negotiations on the second stage of the preliminary ceasefire deal."

According to the new proposal, "Hamas will release five living Israeli hostages, including an Israeli-American soldier, in return for a ceasefire in the strip for 40 days to pave the way for talks on the second stage," revealed the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Hamas immediately agreed to Egypt's new proposal, the sources noted, without specifying whether the Israeli side has delivered a response.

Israel ended a two-month ceasefire with Hamas on Tuesday by resuming air and ground attacks in the Palestinian enclave, which have so far killed more than 730 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. Enditem

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