Hamas has agreed to a deal to pause the militant group’s war with Israel in Gaza, according to two officials with knowledge of the situation, fueling optimism that a long-awaited breakthrough in negotiations could be close.

Hamas has told Egyptian and Qatari mediators it is willing to accept a ceasefire proposal to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of Israeli hostages, said a diplomat briefed on the talks. They said the Palestinian militant group had agreed to a deal that would preserve “98 per cent” of a proposal first put forward by US envoy Steve Witkoff in May,