The leader of Hamas has said a deal on a truce with Israel is close – raising hopes of the realease of dozens of hostages being held inside Gaza and a pause in the Israeli military offensive on the besieged territory.
Ismail Haniyeh, of the Hamas’s political wing, said: “We are close to reaching a deal on a truce” and that Hamas had delievered its response to mediators from Qatar. There has been no immediate response from Israel.
