Hamas says it has approved a proposal to halt the war in Gaza and exchange Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons. The Palestinian armed group on Wednesday told Al Jazeera Arabic that its delegation delivered its approval of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement to mediators.

Israel and Hamas are the closest they have been to a ceasefire in Gaza. That is the word from senior U.S. and Israeli officials and a Hamas statement. Nick Schifrin reports on the latest.

During the first phase of the accord, meant to last six weeks, Hamas will free 33 of the 98 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. During this initial period, further talks will be held to finalise the next stage of Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and the release of the remaining hostages.