<p>Qatar's prime minister said on Sunday the main sticking points blocking a deal for the release of dozens of hostages taken by Palestinian group Hamas in their October 7 attack on Israel were now "very minor" and mainly practical and logistical issues.</p><p>It followed a report in the <em>Washington Post</em> published on Saturday that said a deal for the release of 50 hostages had been agreed. The White House denied an agreement was reached.</p><p><em>Reuters</em> said on November 15 that Qatari mediators had been seeking a deal between Israel and Hamas to exchange 50 hostages in return for a three-day ceasefire, citing an official briefed on the talks. At the time, the official said general outlines had been agreed but Israel had still been negotiating details.</p><p>"The challenges facing the agreement are just practical and logistical," Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said at a joint press conference with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Doha.</p>.US, Israel, Hamas reach tentative deal to pause conflict and free dozens of hostages: Report.<p>"The deal is going through ups and downs from time to time throughout the last few weeks. But I think that you know I'm now more confident that we are close enough to reach a deal that can bring the people safely back to their home."</p><p>The <em>Washington Post</em>, citing people familiar with the deal, reported that Israel, the United States and Hamas militants had reached a tentative agreement to free dozens of women and children held hostage in Gaza in exchange for a five-day pause in fighting.</p><p>However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said no deal had been reached yet.</p><p>"The efforts are still ongoing ... and we communicate with both parties, whether it's with the Israelis or with Hamas, and we see there is a good progress especially happened in the last few days," said Sheikh Mohammed. </p>
<p>Qatar's prime minister said on Sunday the main sticking points blocking a deal for the release of dozens of hostages taken by Palestinian group Hamas in their October 7 attack on Israel were now "very minor" and mainly practical and logistical issues.</p><p>It followed a report in the <em>Washington Post</em> published on Saturday that said a deal for the release of 50 hostages had been agreed. The White House denied an agreement was reached.</p><p><em>Reuters</em> said on November 15 that Qatari mediators had been seeking a deal between Israel and Hamas to exchange 50 hostages in return for a three-day ceasefire, citing an official briefed on the talks. At the time, the official said general outlines had been agreed but Israel had still been negotiating details.</p><p>"The challenges facing the agreement are just practical and logistical," Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said at a joint press conference with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Doha.</p>.US, Israel, Hamas reach tentative deal to pause conflict and free dozens of hostages: Report.<p>"The deal is going through ups and downs from time to time throughout the last few weeks. But I think that you know I'm now more confident that we are close enough to reach a deal that can bring the people safely back to their home."</p><p>The <em>Washington Post</em>, citing people familiar with the deal, reported that Israel, the United States and Hamas militants had reached a tentative agreement to free dozens of women and children held hostage in Gaza in exchange for a five-day pause in fighting.</p><p>However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said no deal had been reached yet.</p><p>"The efforts are still ongoing ... and we communicate with both parties, whether it's with the Israelis or with Hamas, and we see there is a good progress especially happened in the last few days," said Sheikh Mohammed. </p>