Israel and Hamas convened in Qatar on Tuesday for another round of negotiations aimed at finalising a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. The proposed deal includes the release of hostages, with mediator Qatar indicating that the talks have reached their “final stages.”

“We do believe that we are at the final stages… certainly we are hopeful that this would lead very soon to an agreement,” Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari told a news conference, adding that “until there is an announcement… we shouldn’t be over-excited about what’s happening right now”.

The obstacles delaying the ceasefire agreement have reportedly been “resolved” over the past few weeks, according to the mediators. Hamas confirmed that the talks are in their final stages and expressed optimism that this round of negotiations would culminate in a deal. A Palestinian source close to the discussions told Reuters that the agreement could be finalised on Tuesday, provided “all goes well.”

The renewed discussions, involving mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the United States, mark a significant breakthrough in the negotiations. This progress follows months of deadlock and ongoing Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip.

Qatar has presented drafts of a potential ceasefire agreement to both Hamas and Israel, marking what mediator Al-Ansari described on Tuesday as the closest point to reaching a deal in recent months.

The negotiations have seen the participation of key international figures, including Steve Witkoff, the Middle East envoy for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Brett McGurk, envoy for President Joe Biden. The talks, hosted by Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, also feature Israel’s representation through David Barnea, director of the Mossad intelligence agency and Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet internal security agency.

Qatar has presented drafts of a potential ceasefire agreement to both Hamas and Israel, marking what mediator Al-Ansari described on Tuesday as the closest point to reaching a deal in recent months.

Two officials have informed The Associated Press that the Palestinian militant group Hamas has accepted the draft ceasefire agreement.

The Associated Press obtained a copy of the proposed agreement, with an Egyptian official and a Hamas representative confirming its authenticity. An Israeli official acknowledged progress in the negotiations but noted that the details are still being finalised. The draft agreement will require approval from the Israeli Cabinet before implementation.

If successful, the phased ceasefire—culminating over a year of intermittent negotiations—could end the conflict that has devastated Gaza, claiming tens of thousands of Palestinian lives, rendering much of the population homeless and continuing to result in daily casualties. The agreement includes provisions for Israel to secure the release of hostages, approximately 100 of whom remain in captivity following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks that triggered the war. In exchange, Israel would release Palestinian detainees.