Gaza ceasefire talks and hostage releases: what you need to know

High-level ceasefire talks appeared to gain momentum Monday as Arab and U.S. mediators pushed for an agreement to end the fighting in Gaza and release hostages held by Hamas before the President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office on January 20.

It remains unclear whether the parties have reached a resolution on central disputes that proved intractable in previous rounds of negotiations, but officials briefed on the negotiations have expressed cautious optimism in recent days that a deal could be reached. agreement.

For months, repeated rounds of negotiations raised hopes that were dashed days later, with Israel and Hamas blaming each other for the impasse.

If a deal is reached, it would bring some relief to Palestinians in Gaza, who have endured miserable conditions in displacement camps and Israel’s relentless bombing, and to the families of hostages taken from Israel, who have suffered for months wondering about the fate of their loved ones.