Pakistan, Oct. 3 -- A senior Hamas official said on Friday that the group still needs additional time to examine US President Donald Trump's new Gaza plan, which is strongly supported by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The official confirmed that Hamas has informed mediators about ongoing internal consultations, stressing that the process requires patience before an official response is announced publicly. Trump earlier gave the group a deadline of three to four days to accept the proposal aimed at ending the nearly two-year conflict in the Palestinian territory.

The proposed plan includes a ceasefire, the release of hostages within seventy-two hours, Hamas's disarmament, and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. F...