Israel and Hamas are nearing a deal for a Gaza ceasefire, although they have yet to agree on the positioning of Israeli troops inside the shattered Palestinian enclave, according to three people familiar with the negotiations.
They cautioned that a deal to halt the 21-month war could take another fortnight to conclude after international mediators adapted their initial proposal in a bid to close the remaining gaps between the two sides.
The original draft framework put forward by the US, Qatar and Egypt last week, which both warring parties tacitly accepted, called for a 60-day truce, the release of more than half the remaining 50 Israeli hostages, and the start of talks on a permanent end to the war.