Hope for peace

Israel and Hamas 'close to a ceasefire'. Hostages deal as part of 6-week halt

- CHRIS HUGHES

NEGOTIATORS believe Israel and Hamas are close to a temporary ceasefire deal.

It would involve swapping hundreds of Palestinian prisoners for hostages taken by Hamas.

The US thinks Israel could agree to a six-week halt in fighting, hundreds of aid trucks being allowed to enter Gaza every day and civilians being free to return to the north.

Hopes for a ceasefire as early as Monday have been dampened by Hamas saying such claims are "premature" as talks with US and Qatari negotiators continue.

It comes as Gaza's Health Ministry said 96 more Palestinians were killed in the previous 24 hours, making the official death toll as high as 30,000.

Under the latest deal being discussed, about 400 Palestinians would be freed from Israeli jails and 40 hostages taken by Hamas would be released from Gaza.