During its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, Hamas and other groups took about 250 people hostages and brought them to Gaza. A previous truce in November 2023 freed more than 100 hostages, while others have been rescued or their remains have been recovered over the past year.

Hamas said in a statement on Saturday that reaching a Gaza ceasefire agreement with Israel “has become closer than ever before” only if Tel Aviv refrains from imposing new conditions.

U.S. officials say both Hamas and Israel are making concessions toward securing a deal, but tempered optimism with differences remaining on key issues.

Israel and Hamas are closing in on an agreement to end more than 14 months of war. But so far, the sides remain unable to seal the deal.

Lengthy negotiations on an agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza after 14 months of war between Israel and Hamas are in a final phase, according to Egyptian security circles. A deal that should also lead to the release of Hamas-held hostages from the Gaza Strip could be reached within 10 days,