Progress toward a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza follows a shift in the balance of power in the Middle East after last month’s 12-day war between Israel and Iran.If Israel and Hamas complete negotiations brokered by the U.

The deal comes more than 20 months into the conflict -- and more than three months after a previous deal ended.

But it added: "In light of an assessment of the situation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed that the invitation to proximity talks be accepted and that the contacts for the return of our hostages - on the basis of the Qatari proposal that Israel has agreed to - be continued. The negotiating team will leave tomorrow."