Hopes for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip received a boost Tuesday after the prime minister of Qatar, one of the chief negotiators between Hamas and Israel, said that Hamas had replied to the proposal drafted last week.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said in a live press conference alongside U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that a reply from Hamas had been received, and that — while it included some comments — “in general, it was positive.”