Negotiators are suddenly expected to resume negotiations in Doha, Qatar, shortly after Israel signaled it is preparing to wind down major military operations in Gaza after nine months of war.

Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, has rejected statements supporting plans for foreign forces to enter the Gaza Strip. The group insists that managing Gaza is solely a Palestinian issue and will resist any external involvement.

Hamas has responded positively to the latest Gaza ceasefire proposal, the head of the National Relations Department of the Hamas Movement abroad, Ali Baraka, said on Friday.