Hamas approves ceasefire deal, but demands 'written guarantees' for Israel negotiations

Hamas on Saturday accepted a ceasefire deal proposed by the U.S. that would involve releasing the hostages, but they demand "written guarantees" when it comes to negotiations about ending the war in Israel. 

Hamas recently dropped its demand that Israel would promise to totally end the ongoing war in Gaza.

A representative from Hamas said that they want mediators that will negotiate a permanent truce, according to the New York Post.

The official said they wanted these guarantees in writing.  

Those moderating would be Egyptian and Qatari mediators and Hamas said they would need a vow from Israel not to continue fighting. 

Israel’s Mossad intelligence director David Barnea went to Doha on Friday where he met with the mediators and rejected the demand, according to Axios. 

The remaining difference between the parties is over language in Article 14 of the Israeli proposal. It involves the duration of negotiations that are supposed to begin during the first stage of the agreement in which there would be a temporary ceasefire and an exchange of living hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

In the original language it says the U.S., Egypt and Qatar will "make every effort" to ensure this second-stage negotiation ends with an agreement and that the ceasefire continues as long as the negotiations continue. Hamas wants the words "make every effort" to be replaced by the word "ensure," according to Axios.

Israel is concerned that Hamas would drag out the negotiations indefinitely to keep Israel from resuming the war to eliminate Hamas's military capabilities. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would send negotiators back to Doha, but stated that there were “gaps between the parties.”

CIA director William Burns is also going to Doha, Axios reports.