A ceasefire is close in the Gaza Strip, outgoing US president Joe Biden said on Monday, as he sought to defend his foreign policy record.

A peace deal would put an end to more than a year of fighting, during which tens of thousands of people have been killed

By bnm Gulf bureau United States and Arab mediators have made significant progress toward brokering a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, with officials saying negotiations are 'closer than ever' though several hurdles remain,

Israel and Hamas are close to a possible hostage, ceasefire deal in which 33 hostages will be released during the first phase, with a staged withdrawal of IDF forces from Gaza other than an undefined security perimeter,

In a big push towards the ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Hamas and Israel, mediator Qatar has handed a “final” draft of the deal to both the parties, Reuters reported citing an official.

The most significant progress in months toward a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas is being reported. The deal could see up to 100 hostages released and the end of deadly combat operation in Gaza.