The two sides appear closer than they have been in months to reaching an agreement that would bring home dozens of hostages being held in Gaza.

Israel and Hamas on Wednesday accused each other of obstructing negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, after Israel withdrew its negotiators from the talks the previous day. Israeli media reported on Wednesday that the refusal by the Palestinian Islamist militia Hamas to hand over a list of the names of the hostages it still holds is hindering progress in the negotiations.

The terrorist organization claimed that Israel had introduced 'new conditions to the deal', while Netanyahu blamed Hamas for 'reneging on understandings' already agreed upon