JERUSALEM (NEWSnet/AP) — Israeli leaders approved a military operation into the Gaza Strip city of Rafah, and Israeli forces are now striking targets in the area, officials announced Monday.

The move came hours after Hamas announced it had accepted an Egyptian-Qatari cease-fire proposal.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that the proposal was “far from Israel’s essential demands,” but that it would nonetheless send negotiators to continue talks on a cease-fire agreement.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari spoke after the Hamas militant group said it accepted an Egyptian-Qatari cease-fire proposal to halt the seven-month war with Israel. Israeli officials were studying the proposal late Monday and did not immediately comment.

“We examine every answer and reply very seriously,” said Hagari. “At the same time, we continue our operations in the Gaza Strip and will continue to do so.”

A U.S. official said that Washington was still waiting to learn more about the Hamas position and whether it reflected an agreement to what had already been signed off on by Israel and international negotiators or to something else.

Details of the proposal haven’t been released. The official was speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to publicly discuss the matter.

Earlier on Monday, Israeli army ordered about 100,000 Palestinians to begin evacuating from Rafah.

Also on Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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