Concessions made on both sides' in Cairo ceasefire talks

More details on the concessions made during the ceasefire talks in Cairo this afternoon, where there has been conflicting reports on the progress made (see 8.36am post)

Two Egyptian security sources and the state-run Al Qahera News said both sides had made concessions that could help pave the way for a deal for a truce, which - as proposed during previous talks - would be staggered over three stages, with the release of any remaining Israeli hostages and a long-term ceasefire addressed in the second stage.

The concessions relate to the freeing of hostages and Hamas's demand for the return of displaced residents to northern Gaza, they said. 

Mediators suggested the return could be monitored by an Arab force in the presence of Israeli security deployments that would later be pulled back, they added.

Delegations have left Cairo and consultations were expected to continue within 48 hours.

But a Palestinian official close to mediation efforts told Reuters news agency that deadlock continued over Israel's refusal to end the war, withdraw its forces from Gaza, allow all civilians to return to their homes and lift a 17-year-old blockade to allow speedy reconstruction of the coastal enclave. 

These steps took precedence over Israel's main demand for a release of hostages in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, the official said.

"Regarding the exchange of prisoners, Hamas was and is willing to be more flexible, but there is no flexibility over our... main demands," he told Reuters.

Israel has ruled out winding up the war shortly or withdrawing from Gaza, saying its forces will not relent until Hamas no longer controls Gaza or threatens Israel militarily