Hamas said it has agreed to a deal proposed by Qatar and Egypt to pause the militant group’s war with Israel in Gaza, fueling optimism that a long-awaited breakthrough in negotiations could be close.

Hamas says it has agreed to a new Gaza ceasefire proposal as mediators from Qatar and Egypt push to renew talks ahead of a major Israeli assault on Gaza City.

The latest Gaza ceasefire proposal agreed by Hamas is "almost identical" to an earlier plan put forward by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.