The negotiations, mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, appear to be making progress after months of failed attempts to achieve a breakthrough.

Israel and Hamas have been holding indirect talks for more than a year aimed at ending the war in Gaza and returning the hostages to Israel.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari at a weekly briefing on Tuesday said, that Israel and Hamas are at their "closest point" yet to agreeing on a Gaza ceasefire and hostages' release, with ongoing negotiations deemed positive and productive.