Hopes for a ceasefire in Gaza are rising as pressure mounts on Hamas and Israel

For all these reasons, now is seen as the best opportunity in months to bridge the gap between Israel and Hamas and end the war.

What hasn’t changed in the eight months since they last negotiated are the gaps between them.

Key among them is the direct conflict between the key concern of Hamas, which wants to end the war, and Israel, which wants to keep the door open to a continuation of the conflict, whether for political or military reasons.

The agreement, as presented by President Joe Biden in May, is divided into three phases, with a permanent ceasefire only coming into effect in the second phase.

Success is now likely to depend on finding assurances to allay Hamas fears that Israel will withdraw from the deal after the first phase of the hostage release.

Questions about how to manage the territory from which Israel is withdrawing are also unclear at this stage.

But the web of diplomacy that has crisscrossed the region over the past week and the fact that Netanyahu sent the heads of Israel’s security agencies to Doha for talks, along with a key political adviser, are encouraging signs.

So is the trip to Doha of the coordinator for Palestinian detainees, Qadoura Fares.

The agreement has not yet been concluded – and the talks were already falling apart.

This old deal raises new hopes in part because the negotiations are taking place in a new regional context, with growing pressures both at home and from key allies abroad.