"A short while ago, the Hamas movement delivered its response to the framework agreement to the brothers in Qatar and Egypt," a statement said, referring to "a comprehensive and full ceasefire".

The militant group has for more than a week mulled the deal drawn up in its absence at Paris talks, as international pressure mounts to end the four-month Israeli aggression.

Hamas said the proposal was aimed at "ending the aggression against our people, securing relief and shelter, reconstruction, lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip, and completing the process of a prisoner exchange".

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said Doha had received a "positive" response from Hamas to the truce plans.

The premier was speaking alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has embarked on another crisis tour of the Middle East.

Blinken said he would bring a response from Hamas on a captive deal to Israel on Wednesday and called it "essential" to move ahead.

"There's still a lot of work to be done. But we continue to believe that an agreement is possible and indeed essential, and we will continue to work relentlessly to achieve it," Blinken told reporters in Doha on Tuesday after being informed of the reply by Qatar.

Israel's ground invasion and relentless bombardment have killed at least 27,585 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Israel's war on Gaza began on 7 October with an offensive by Hamas which resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, according to official Israeli figures.

Hamas fighters also seized around 250 captives. Israel says 132 remain in Gaza including 28 who are believed to have been killed.

Hamas has asserted that Israel's carpet bombing of the territory has led to the deaths of captives.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online