The Biden administration is pushing again for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, offering a new proposal that it says could bridge the gaps between the two sides. But the latest U.S. effort, which builds on an earlier framework, again appears to have run into difficulty.

Here’s a look at the twists and turns over months of talks and what the main sticking points are this time:

What’s the status of the talks?

Negotiations mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar have inched along since early December, when hostilities resumed after a one-week cease-fire during which Hamas released more than 100 people from captivity in Gaza and Israel freed 240 Palestinian prisoners. In late May, President Biden endorsed a new three-phase plan and the U.N. Security Council followed with a resolution supporting it.

The first phase would see a six-week cease-fire and the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinians being held in Israeli prisons. People displaced from northern Gaza would be able to return to their homes, many of which lie in ruins. During that time, Israeli forces would withdraw from populated areas of Gaza.

The second phase envisions a permanent cease-fire, while the third consists of a multiyear reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of the remains of deceased hostages.

But for months, Israel and Hamas, whose negotiators do not speak directly to each other, have remained far apart on key issues.

What is the new U.S. proposal?

On Aug. 8, with the war in its 11th month, President Biden and the leaders of Egypt and Qatar said they were willing to present a “final” cease-fire proposal. Last week, at talks in Qatar, the United States presented what it called as a “bridging proposal” to try to close some of the gaps between Israel and Hamas.