Hamas said Friday it was ready to start talks “immediately” on a proposal for a ceasefire with Israel in Gaza, after holding consultations with other Palestinian factions.

A cleric was arrested on Friday for allegedly raping a 22-year-old student of a madrassa and forcing her to undergo abortion, police said.

Hamas said Friday it was holding consultations with other Palestinian factions on a proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, where the civil defence agency said Israel’s ongoing offensive killed more than 50 people.