Hamas has accepted draft agreement with Israel for a ceasefire, release of hostages: report

Hamas has reportedly accepted an agreement with Israel that would allow a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages.

The authenticity of the proposed agreement came from an Egyptian official and a Hamas official and was obtained by The Associated Press.

Officials are hopeful they can reach an agreement before President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20.

Trump's Middle East envoy has also been participating in the negotiations. 

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said Tuesday that the discussions have been productive.

“Today, we are at the closest point ever to having a deal,” Ansari said during a briefing. 

Lawmakers in the U.S. have been pushing for a ceasefire deal after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel, which resulted in Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza.