Hamas said on Thursday that it had responded to an Israeli proposal for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, as pressure mounted for a breakthrough to end almost two years of devastating conflict that has triggered a humanitarian crisis.

Mediators have been shuttling between Israeli and Hamas negotiators in Qatar for more than two weeks but the indirect talks have so far failed to yield an elusive truce.

International criticism is growing over the plight of the more than two million Palestinians in Gaza, where more than 100 aid and rights groups have warned that "mass starvation" is spreading.

Palestinian militant group Hamas confirmed in a statement on Telegram that it "submitted its response and that of the Palestinian factions to the ceasefire proposal to the mediators".

Israel later confirmed it had received the response. "It is currently being evaluated," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

Hamas's response included proposed amendments to clauses on the entry of aid, maps of areas from which the Israeli army should withdraw,........

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