Hamas and Israel accused each other on Wednesday of sabotaging a potential ceasefire-hostage deal despite both sides reporting “significant” progress in past days.

Negotiations, mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the US, had taken place in Doha this week, rekindling hope for an agreement that has long proven elusive.

Hamas accused Israel of laying down “new conditions”, while Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, claimed the Palestinian terror group was going back on understandings already reached.

“The occupation has set new conditions related to withdrawal, ceasefire, prisoners and the return of the displaced, which has delayed reaching the agreement that was available,” Hamas said in a statement.

However, it added that it was showing flexibility and that the talks – which had been gathering momentum for several weeks – were going in a serious direction.