The Islamic Republic has been kept closely in the loop ever since, with Qatari and Egyptian mediators “continuing to talk with Iran and Hezbollah and encouraging them not to escalate the situation”, reported the Israeli public broadcaster Kan on Sunday.
Thousands marched in Israel at the weekend in support of a deal and public opinion now overwhelmingly supports the proposed ceasefire and hostage exchange.
A snap Channel 12 TV poll published on Friday night found 63 per cent of Israelis back the agreement while 12 per cent oppose it.
If a deal does go ahead, it is thought that some 30 Israeli women, elderly and sick hostages will be freed in the first six weeks, followed by men and military hostages in the second phase.
It is thought that 111 of the 251 hostages abducted by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack remain in Gaza, including the bodies of 39 confirmed dead by the Israeli Defence Forces.
Nevertheless, hope of peace remains fragile.
Israeli strikes were reported to have killed at least 21 people in Gaza on Sunday, including six children, Hamas-run Palestinian health authorities said on Sunday.
The children and their mother were killed in an Israeli air strike on a house in the central town of Deir Al-Balah, health officials said.
The Israeli military said it destroyed rocket launchers used to hit Israel from the southern city of Khan Younis, the scene of intense fighting in recent weeks, and killed 20 Palestinian fighters.