Hamas released a statement on Tuesday saying it had sent Egypt and Qatar its response to the framework of their proposed Gaza cease-fire agreement, Reuters reported.

The statement said the movement “approached the proposal in a positive spirit, securing a comprehensive and complete ceasefire, an end to aggression against our people, the provision of aid, shelter and reconstruction, the lifting of the siege of the Gaza Strip and the exchange of prisoners.”

Details of Hamas’s response were not immediately released, but Qatar, which helped craft the proposal sent to Hamas last week that also included the release of hostages held in Gaza, said the response gave Dosa optimism.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who is on a whirlwind tour of the Middle East, said Washington was reviewing Hamas’ response and would speak with Israeli officials when he visits the country on Wednesday.

“There is still much to come, but we continue to believe that an agreement is possible and even necessary,” he said at a press conference in Doha together with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

After Hamas released a statement announcing it had given its response to the ceasefire proposal, Sheikh Mohammed said it was a “positive response” but declined to elaborate.

The proposed deal, hammered out more than a week ago by US and Israeli intelligence chiefs at a meeting with the Egyptians and Qataris, would see the remaining hostages in Gaza released in exchange for a prolonged pause in the fighting.

Hamas has previously said that any deal must lead to a permanent end to the war. Israel has said it will not end the war permanently until Hamas is destroyed.

Sources close to the talks said the truce would last at least 40 days, during which the militants would release civilians they were still holding. Other steps followed to hand over soldiers and hostage bodies in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.

The only truce so far, in November, was initially agreed for just four days and extended for a week. Hamas then released 110 hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.

Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza after Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and took 253 hostages in southern Israel on October 7.

Gaza’s health ministry said at least 27,585 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military campaign, and thousands more are feared buried under the rubble.