Gaza cease-fire deal at 'closest point', mediator says

DOHA/CAIRO — Qatar says Israel and Hamas are at the "closest point "yet to agreeing on a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said at a weekly briefing on Tuesday that the ongoing negotiations are positive and productive, while declining to get into the details of the sensitive talks.

Qatar has been a key mediator with Hamas in over a year of indirect talks and is currently hosting the negotiations.