As Israeli and Hamas negotiators meet in Qatar over a US-backed ceasefire agreement, some experts say there is reason for cautious optimism for a deal.

The first session of indirect Hamas-Israel ceasefire talks in Qatar ended inconclusively, two Palestinian sources familiar with the matter said early on Monday, adding that the Israeli delegation didn't have a sufficient mandate to reach an agreement with Hamas.

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