What is the latest on the high-stakes negotiations over a cease-fire in Gaza?

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to meet with Israel’s prime minister on Monday as mediators say they are closing in on a deal to halt the war in Gaza and free hostages captured by Hamas. The negotiations have dragged on for months, with several moments of false hope. They gained urgency when Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah vowed to avenge the targeted killing of two top militants, attributed to Israel, raising fears of a far wider and more devastating war. U.S. and Israeli officials have expressed cautious optimism after last week's talks in Qatar, while Hamas has been less upbeat, saying gaps remain.