WASHINGTON—The White House announced on Thursday a breakthrough in overcoming a “critical impasse” in negotiations with the Hamas terrorist group for the release of hostages and advancing toward a permanent cease-fire.
The president and his national security team have reviewed the response that Hamas sent through Qatari mediators earlier this week, the White House said.
“It’s clear that this response moves the process forward and may provide the basis for closing a deal,” a senior administration official told reporters during a call following the review of Hamas’s response.
“We do believe there is a pretty significant opening here.”…