Egyptian and Qatari mediators said they are examining a response from the Hamas militant group, and will work “until agreement is reached” on a US-backed cease-fire proposal in Gaza.

Egyptian and Qatari mediators on Tuesday confirmed that they had received a Hamas response to a US-backed cease-fire proposal in Gaza.

Both countries went on to “confirm that their joint mediation efforts with the United States of America will continue until an agreement is reached, and that the mediators will examine the response and coordinate with the parties concerned regarding the next steps.”

The statement made no mention of Israel.

Earlier in the day, Hamas and an associated organization based in Gaza, Islamic Jihad, said they were “ready to deal positively to arrive at an agreement.”

Hamas still holds roughly 120 of the nearly 250 hostages it abducted when it attacked Israel on October 7, sparking the current iteration of the conflict in Gaza.

Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by Israel, the US and other countries.