Signs of life as hostage deal inches closer

Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar, citing Egyptian sources, reported that Hamas is prepared to provide a detailed list of captives, including those killed, in exchange for a six or eight-week ceasefire in Gaza.

According to the report, the potential deal being discussed in Doha would allow more humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip and support the rehabilitation of its healthcare system. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu denied the report on Wednesday, calling it "a complete lie".

Meanwhile, President-elect Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to join negotiations over a Gaza hostage release and ceasefire deal on Wednesday in Doha. Witkoff's trip is part of a last-minute effort by the outgoing Biden administration and incoming Trump administration to secure a deal before Trump’s inauguration on 20 January.