Mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States have launched a new push to end the Gaza war and secure the release of dozens of hostages held in the Palestinian territory.

Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas have resumed in Doha and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this week that a deal is "very close".

However, the details of the progress remain unclear, with numerous obstacles still to overcome, analysts say.

- Where do things stand? -

In early January, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israeli negotiators would continue working to secure the release of 95 hostages still held in Gaza. According to Israeli officials, 34 of those hostages are dead.

Key issues, however, remain unresolved, including the terms of a ceasefire during which a prisoner exchange could take place, the scale of humanitarian aid for Gaza, the return of displaced Gazans to their homes, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Palestinian territory and the reopening of border crossings.

Netanyahu has firmly rejected a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and remains opposed to any Palestinian governance of the........

© Al Monitor