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

Hamas has submitted its response to a U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire proposal, a Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations told Reuters on Friday, describing the response as a positive one that should "facilitate reaching a deal.

Hamas announced on Friday that it had “submitted a positive response” to a proposal for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, opening the path toward a deal to halt the conflict after months of failed efforts.