Israel to respond by Friday over Gaza truce plan accepted by Hamas

Israel under pressure to accept ceasefire proposal that is said to be almost identical to earlier US-backed plan

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Israel has said it will deliver its response to international mediators by Friday over a new Gaza ceasefire plan accepted by Hamas amid mounting pressure for a ceasefire in a war that has claimed more than 62,000 Palestinian lives.

After last weekend's mass protests in Israel demanding a deal to secure the release of the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages held in Gaza, it appeared that Hamas had reduced its demands for a prisoners-for-hostages exchange as well as over the scope of an Israeli-demanded security buffer zone".