Negotiators working with Israel and Hamas have ironed out the terms of a cease-fire deal for the Gaza Strip, but were waiting Tuesday night for the militant group to give a final sign-off on the agreement, said people familiar with the matter.
The delay raised concerns that the last-ditch effort could collapse like previous rounds.
Hamas had missed a deadline to respond to the deal by several hours, one of the people said. The group had gone silent, and it wasn't clear why, another of the people said.
Both said all significant issues had been ironed out and that the agreement was at a final stage before Hamas stopped responding.
"Progress in the negotiations is ongoing," a Hamas official said, denying that the group had failed to respond. "However, certain specific but crucial issues are currently being discussed to be agreed upon."
Israel and Hamas had been working with negotiators to finalize the terms Tuesday, pushing closer than they have been in months to a deal that would at least pause the fighting in the Gaza Strip and free some of the hostages.
Negotiators-including Steve Witkoff, President-elect Donald Trump's designated Middle East envoy, along with officials from the U.S., Israel and Arab countries-met midday local time in Doha, Qatar, to finalize the draft, said the Arab officials, who are helping to mediate the talks.
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