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

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.

Israeli officials will head to Qatar on Sunday for ceasefire talks with Hamas despite the “unacceptable” changes the terrorist group made to the U.S.-arranged Gaza ceasefire proposal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s office announced.