DOHA, Qatar -- International mediators held a new round of talks Thursday aimed at halting the Israel-Hamas war and securing the release of scores of hostages, with a potential deal seen as the best hope of heading off an even larger Mideast conflict.

The United States, Qatar and Egypt met with an Israeli delegation in Qatar as the Palestinian death toll from the 10-month war climbed past 40,000, according to Gaza health authorities. Hamas, which did not participate directly, accuses Israel of adding new demands to a previous proposal that had U.S. and international support, and to which Hamas had agreed in principle.

White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby called the talks an important step and said they're expected to extend into Friday. He said a lot of work remains given the complexity of an agreement.

A cease-fire in Gaza would likely calm regional tensions. Diplomats hope it would persuade Iran and Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group to hold off on retaliating for the killings of a top Hezbollah commander in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut and of Hamas' top political leader in a Tehran explosion.

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