Hamas has given its initial approval of a U.S.-backed proposal for a phased cease-fire deal in Gaza, dropping a key demand that Israel commit up front to a complete end to the war, a Hamas official and an Egyptian official said Saturday.

The apparent compromise by the militant group, which controlled Gaza before triggering the war with an Oct. 7 attack on Israel, could deliver the first pause in fighting since November and set the stage for further talks on ending a devastating nine months of fighting. But all sides cautioned that a deal is still not guaranteed.

The two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing negotiations, said WashingtonB次元官网网址檚 phased deal would start with a B次元官网网址渇ull and completeB次元官网网址� six-week cease-fire during which older, sick and female hostages would be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. During those 42 days, Israeli forces would withdraw from densely populated areas of Gaza and allow the return of displaced people to their homes in northern Gaza, the officials said.

Over that period, Hamas, Israel and mediators would negotiate the terms of the second phase that could see the release of the remaining male hostages, both civilians and soldiers, the officials said. In return, Israel would free additional Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The third phase would include the return of any remaining hostages, including bodies of the dead, and the start of a yearslong reconstruction project.

Hamas still wants written guarantees from mediators that Israel will continue to negotiate a permanent cease-fire deal once the first phase goes into effect, the officials said.

The Hamas representative told The Associated Press the groupB次元官网网址檚 approval came after it received B次元官网网址渧erbal commitments and guaranteesB次元官网网址� from the mediators that the war wonB次元官网网址檛 be resumed and that negotiations will continue until a permanent cease-fire is reached.

B次元官网网址淣ow we want these guarantees on paper,B次元官网网址� the representative said.

Months of on-again off-again cease-fire talks have stumbled over HamasB次元官网网址� demand that any deal include a complete end to the war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered to pause the fighting but not end it until Israel reaches its goals of destroying HamasB次元官网网址� military and governing capabilities and returning all hostages held by the militant group.

Hamas has expressed concern that Israel will restart the war after the hostages are released. Israeli officials have said they are worried Hamas will draw out the talks and the initial cease-fire indefinitely without releasing all the hostages.

NetanyahuB次元官网网址檚 office did not respond to requests for comment, and there was no immediate comment from Washington. On Friday, the Israeli prime minister confirmed that the Mossad spy agencyB次元官网网址檚 chief had paid a lightning visit to Qatar, a key mediator. But his office said B次元官网网址済aps between the partiesB次元官网网址� remained.

B次元官网网址淔or the first time in many months, we feel hopeful,B次元官网网址� a statement by many families of hostages said. B次元官网网址淣etanyahu, we have seen how you repeatedly thwart deals in real time. DonB次元官网网址檛 you dare break our hearts again.B次元官网网址�

Israel launched the war in Gaza after HamasB次元官网网址� October attack in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1,200 people B次元官网网址� mostly civilians B次元官网网址� and abducted about 250. Israel says Hamas is still holding about 120 hostages B次元官网网址� about a third of them now thought to be dead.

Since then, the Israeli air and ground offensive has killed more than 38,000 people in Gaza, according to the territoryB次元官网网址檚 Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count. The offensive has caused widespread devastation and a humanitarian crisis that has left hundreds of thousands of people on the brink of famine, according to international officials.

In line with previous proposals, the deal would see around 600 trucks of humanitarian aid entering Gaza daily B次元官网网址� including 50 fuel trucks B次元官网网址� with half of them bound for the enclaveB次元官网网址檚 hard-hit north, the two officials said. Since IsraelB次元官网网址檚 assault on the southernmost city of Rafah, aid supplies entering Gaza have been reduced to a trickle.

B次元官网网址淲e want to eat, but from where we can eat? The country is exhausted. The country is destitute. It is not suitable for living,B次元官网网址� said Walid Hegazi, a resident of the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e sorry for the donkeys because we ate their wheat and barley.B次元官网网址�

IsraelB次元官网网址檚 bombardment in Gaza continued.

The Hamas-run Interior Ministry said four police officers were killed in an Israeli airstrike Saturday in Rafah. The ministry, which oversees civilian police, said the officers were killed during foot patrol securing properties. It said eight other police officers were wounded. IsraelB次元官网网址檚 military did not immediately respond to questions.

In Deir al-Balah, prayers were held for 12 Palestinians, including five children and two women, killed in three separate strikes in central Gaza on Friday and Saturday, according to hospital officials. The bodies were taken to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where AP journalists counted them.

Samy Magdy And Wafaa Shurafa, The Associated Press