Gaza truce talks in final stage

JERUSALEM, Dec 17 (BBC): After months of deadlock, there are new signs that Israel and Hamas could be moving closer to a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal.
A senior Palestinian official involved in the indirect negotiations told the BBC that talks were in a "decisive and final phase". Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, has also said an agreement is closer than ever.
Most of the 2.3 million population of Gaza has been displaced, there has been widespread destruction and amid an ongoing struggle to get aid to those in need, there is now mass hunger.
Donald Trump's victory in November's US presidential election has given a new push to diplomatic efforts.
At a news conference on Monday, he again warned that a ceasefire deal should be reached before he takes office, saying otherwise, "it's not going to be pleasant."
In recent weeks, the US, Qatar and Egypt have resumed their mediation efforts - reporting greater willingness by both sides in this 14-month war to conclude a deal.
An Israeli delegation described as "working level" is currently in the Qatari capital Doha amid a flurry of diplomatic comings and goings in the region.
The Palestinian official outlined a three-phase plan which would see civilians and women soldiers held hostage in Gaza released in the first 45 days, with Israeli forces pulling out of city centres, the coastal road and the strategic strip of land along the border with Egypt.
There would be a mechanism for displaced Gazans to be able to return to the north of the territory, the official said. A second stage would see remaining hostages freed and troops withdrawn before the third stage ending the war.