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

If the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal goes according to the current draft, then fighting will stop in Gaza for 42 days, and dozens of Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be freed.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Israel and Hamas appear close to a ceasefire agreement that could trigger the release of Israeli hostages seized by the militant Islamist group in October 2023.