Hamas's response to Donald Trump's peace plan could take days, despite the US President setting a deadline of "three or four days" to respond.
The 20-point peace plan announced yesterday by Mr Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposes an immediate end to fighting, the release within three days of 20 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas and the remains of the more than two dozen hostages who are believed to be dead.
A diplomat briefed about the matter described the situation, saying Qatari and Egyptian officials presented Hamas negotiators with the proposal, but there was no timeline for a Hamas response.
The diplomat, who has been granted anonymity, said negotiators need to communicate it with the people in Gaza, which could take hours or days.
Mr Trump told reporters outside the White House that Hamas has "not much" room to negotiate.
He said: "Hamas is either going to be doing it or it's not, and if it's not, it's going to be a sad end."
Mr Netanyahu promised that Israel would "finish the job" should Hamas not agree, with the Israeli military dropping thousands of leaflets over Gaza, urging people to evacuate.
The US President said he would allow Israel to "go and do what they have to do".
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Donald Trump has given Hamas 'three or four days' to respond
| GETTYA freelance journalist based in Gaza City said the people in Gaza are "split in two" about the peace proposals.
Al Hassen Selmi told the BBC: "The people here have been suffering for two years from the killing and from the displacement. They need any solution, just to end their suffering here.
"Israel's withdrawal from Gaza will not be fast, and we will still live under the occupation.
"The people now don't care about anything because they've already lost everything."
The plan proposed by the US President states that Hamas will have no role in governing Gaza and leaves the door open for an eventual Palestinian state.
Mr Netenyahu later said in a video statement that a Palestinian state is "not written in the agreement," adding: "We said we would strongly oppose a Palestinian state."
Mr Trump described the plan as "a historic day for peace" adding that "full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip" when it is agreed upon.
The US also outlined its plans for the future governance of Gaza.
Donald Trump laid out the plans with Benjamin Netanyahu
| REUTERSThis governance includes former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, who was part of a late August meeting Mr Trump presided over to tackle Israel's war in Gaza and post-war plans for the Palestinian territory.
Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the plans, saying: "We call on all sides to come together and to work with the US Administration to finalise this agreement and bring it into reality.
"Hamas should now agree to the plan and end the misery by laying down their arms and releasing all remaining hostages."
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that any administration in Gaza would need the "confidence" of the Palestinian people.