For all these reasons, now is seen as the best chance in months to bridge the gap between Israel and Hamas and end the war.
What hasn’t changed in the eight months since their last talks are the rifts 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 renewed conflict for political or military reasons.
deal, as outlined by President Joe Biden in Mayis divided into three phases, with a permanent ceasefire coming into force only in the second phase.
Success now is likely to depend on whether guarantees can be found to allay Hamas fears that Israel will withdraw from the deal after the first phase of hostage releases.
At this stage, questions about how to manage the territory from which Israel is withdrawing are also unclear.
But last week, a diplomatic net criss-crossed the region, and the fact that Netanyahu sent Israel’s security chiefs to the talks in Doha, along with a key political adviser, are encouraging signs.
The same goes for the departure to Doha of the coordinator of Palestinian detainees Kadour Fares.
The deal has yet to be concluded – and talks have broken down before.
That old deal is fueling new hopes in part because the talks are taking place in a new regional context, with growing pressure both at home and from key allies abroad.
