The end of war is near?

A Hamas delegation will arrive in Egypt to deliver its response to the Israeli proposal.

"The atmosphere is positive as long as there are no new Israeli obstacles. Hamas' comments and questions about the content of the draft do not indicate serious problems," said the official, who wished to remain anonymous.

Israel's government is under intense pressure from foreign allies to reach a ceasefire deal in the Gaza war, which aid groups say has brought the Palestinian enclave to the brink of starvation and fueled fears of a wider conflict.

Egypt, Qatar and the US are trying to broker a new ceasefire since last November in which Hamas released 80 Israeli hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinians from Israeli prisons.

Diplomatic efforts have intensified in recent days. Egypt sent a delegation to Israel this week to revive stalled talks. The American website Akios, citing two Israeli officials, reported that the latest Israeli proposal envisages a willingness to discuss "restoring sustainable peace" in the Gaza Strip once the remaining hostages are freed.

As Axios reports, Israeli officials have indicated for the first time in the nearly seven-month war that they are open to negotiations on ending it.

An unnamed Hamas official told AFP the movement was open to a "positive" discussion on the new proposal and "wants to reach an agreement that guarantees a permanent ceasefire, the free return of displaced persons, an acceptable (prisoner) exchange agreement and an end to the siege."