Progress toward a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza follows a shift in the balance of power in the Middle East after last month’s 12-day war between Israel and Iran.If Israel and Hamas complete negotiations brokered by the U.

The deal comes more than 20 months into the conflict -- and more than three months after a previous deal ended.

Israel has said it is sending a delegation to Qatar for ceasefire talks with Hamas about the war in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Saturday. “In light of an