The move also comes despite President Joe Biden repeatedly stating U.S. opposition to an invasion of Rafah, where the population has swelled to an estimated 1.4 million people following Israel’s offensive in Gaza in retaliation for Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel and the taking of hostages on Oct. 7.

Hamas said it accepted a proposal for a cease-fire. Israel responded that the deal didn't meet its requirements and announced it was pushing ahead with an assault in Rafah.

Hamas says it will accept a cease-fire agreement in Gaza, just hours after Israel ordered civilians in eastern Rafah to evacuate. Israel has yet to accept the terms.

Hamas said Monday that it had accepted a Gaza cease-fire proposal from Egypt and Qatar, but details were not immediately available and it was not clear whether Israel had agreed to the terms.

Hamas says it's accepted an Egyptian-Qatari cease-fire proposal, but Israel says the deal did not meet its core demands and has pushed ahead with an assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Hamas’s agreement to a cease-fire proposal revived hopes of an extended pause to the fighting in Gaza, even as Israel ordered a large-scale evacuation of Rafah.

Israel pushed forward with its plans to invade Rafah despite Hamas saying it would accept a cease-fire proposal. It's Monday's news.

Hamas said it would approve a Qatari-Egyptian cease-fire proposal shortly after Israel’s military ordered about 100,000 civilians in parts of Rafah to evacuate “immediately.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that his war cabinet approved continuing an operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah in order to pressure Hamas to release Israeli hostages and achieve the country's other war goals.