Peace talks raise hopes as time runs down for Rafah

A closed-door meeting of spy chiefs, military officials and diplomats late last week backed up by comments by US president Joe Biden on Monday renewed hopes of a ceasefire deal amid fierce debates at the United Nations, but observers warned that time was running out to prevent a Israeli offensive on Gaza's southernmost city.

During a visit to New York, Biden told reporters that he believed a new, temporary ceasefire in Gaza was possible by 4 March, as Hamas was reportedly considering a draft agreement for a 40-day pause in fighting and the exchange of dozens of Israeli hostages for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, according to a Reuters source.

In an interview on NBC's Late Night with Seth Meyers, Biden also said Israel would be willing to temporarily halt its war if a deal is reached to release some of the hostages. "Ramadan's coming up and there has been an agreement by the Israelis that they would not engage in activities during Ramadan as well, in order to give us time to get all the hostages out," Biden said.

His appearance came hours before details of a draft proposal from truce talks in Paris were published by Reuters, citing a senior source close to the discussions. The plans reportedly included a 40-day pause in all military operations as well as the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages at a ratio of 10 to one.

Under the ceasefire terms, hospitals and bakeries in Gaza would be repaired, 500 aid trucks would enter the strip each day and thousands of tents and caravans would be delivered to house the displaced. The draft also reportedly stated Hamas would free 40 Israeli hostages including women, children under 19, people over 50 and the sick, while Israel would release about 400 Palestinian prisoners and would not re-arrest them. It would also reportedly allow the gradual return of displaced civilians to northern Gaza, except men of military age.