Former Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas predicted Saturday that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza is unlikely before President Biden departs the White House early next year.

Hamas said it was open to efforts to bring an end to its 13-month-old war with the Jewish state in Gaza as senior officials hailed the Israel-Hezbollah agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday he was recommending that his Cabinet approve a ceasefire with Hezbollah to end hostilities in Lebanon.

Under the agreement, Israeli troops would withdraw from southern Lebanon while Hezbollah would move its forces further away from the Israeli-Lebanon border.

The chance for an end to more than a year of fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and the release of about 100 hostages held by the militants is now “more likely” because of last week’s ceasefire reached by Israel with Hezbollah in Lebanon,