Two days of cautious talks in the Qatari capital Doha ended on Friday without any clear progress outward. But the mediators, the USA, Egypt, and Qatar, describe the negotiations as constructive and the atmosphere as positive.
A clear sign of the intensity of the negotiations was Friday's announcement that US Secretary of State Blinken will travel to the region as early as Sunday.
Biden optimistic
Blinken would have traveled earlier in the week, but canceled the trip when it was said that the situation was uncertain.
He will now try to "finalize an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages and prisoners through the bridging proposal" according to a statement from the US Department of State.
President Joe Biden said simultaneously that "we are closer (to an agreement) than we have been so far".
The developments come after the USA presented a revised proposal for the parties, Hamas and Israel, to take a stand on before further talks in Egypt at the beginning of next week.
"This proposal builds on areas where there is consensus and bridges remaining gaps in a way that paves the way for a swift adoption of the agreement", the USA, Qatar, and Egypt write in a joint statement.
The talks aim to achieve a ceasefire in the fighting in Gaza – where over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed according to figures from the Hamas-controlled health authorities in the area – and the release of Israeli hostages.
Terror-listed Hamas has not directly participated in the talks so far. The Islamist group has accused Israel of adding new demands to the previous agreement presented in the spring, which Hamas was willing to accept.
Demanding withdrawal
After this week's negotiations, a Hamas representative tells AFP that they reject the "new conditions" presented by Israel in Doha. According to a source, it concerns the demand to keep Israeli soldiers in the Gaza border area against Egypt.
Hamas demands, among other things, a complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from the border strip.
