US expresses cautious optimism on Gaza ceasefire

The US State Department has expressed cautious optimism about the possibility of a ceasefire in Gaza.

“I think cautious optimism is a fair way to characterise it, though very much tempered by realism,” said Matthew Miller, the department's spokesperson, in Washington.

However, Miller acknowledged that previous hopes for a ceasefire had ultimately been dashed, making the current outlook more tentative.

In a separate statement, Hamas suggested that a ceasefire could be achieved if Israel refrains from imposing new conditions.