Israel’s war cabinet has discussed the next steps for negotiations towards a hostage deal and ceasefire in its fighting with Hamas, as concern deepens over the increasingly desperate situation faced by civilians in the devastated Gaza Strip, AFP reports.

An Israeli delegation that had travelled to Paris for fresh talks on a hostage deal returned to brief the country’s war cabinet on Saturday night, according to an official and local media reports.

National security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said in a televised interview shortly before the meeting that the “delegation has returned from Paris — there is probably room to move towards an agreement”.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the meeting would discuss the “next steps in the negotiations”.