Israel wants 33 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza to be released in the first phase of a ceasefire and hostage deal, and is prepared to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails in the process.
Final talks have been underway for a number of hours in Doha, with senior members of Israel's security and intelligence establishment and Hamas's organisation present.
An Israeli official has confirmed to the ABC that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has convened an urgent meeting of security officials to discuss progress on the deal.
Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages, two officials involved in the talks told AP.
Qatari officials have described the negotiations as being at the closest point to reaching a deal in months, while expressing caution about whether talks could collapse at the last moment.
Health authorities in Hamas-run Gaza say more than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed during the 15-month-long war, triggered by Hamas's deadly attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed more than 1,100.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced as a result of the fighting, and swathes of Gaza have been reduced to rubble.
The Israeli government has confirmed the first phase of a six-week ceasefire would focus on the return of 33 hostages, describing it as a "humanitarian" release of women, children, elderly and unwell who have been held by Hamas for 15 months.
There has been significant speculation as to how many of the 98 Israeli hostages still believed to be in Gaza are alive, and Israeli government spokesman David Mencer said of the initial cohort of 33 "most are alive".
One of Hamas's key demands in negotiations has been the release of Palestinians in Israeli jails, but it is unclear just how many would be freed under any deal and where they would be sent.
The figure could reach 1,000.
Israel, US say 'ball is in Hamas's court'
Hamas has said it is in the "final stages of reaching an agreement."
"We hope that the current negotiations will end with a clear and comprehensive agreement."
When asked whether the Israeli government had agreed to the deal, its spokesman echoed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's remarks that the "ball was in Hamas's court."
Earlier, Israel's deputy foreign minister said she was hopeful there could be "good news in the next few hours."
Final details of the deal remain under negotiation, but reports have suggested there will not be a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza until all hostages are returned.
Troops would gradually pull out of major population centres, but continue to hold some military positions inside the territory and maintain its presence along the Israel-Gaza border.
It is not guaranteed that the ceasefire would continue after that initial six-week period, if further negotiation falls over during the first phase.
Biden and Trump envoys working 'in tandem'
US President Joe Biden's envoy to the Middle East, Brett McGurk has been taking part in the talks alongside his successor Donald Trump's pick for envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Mr Trump has warned there would be "hell to pay" if Hamas did not release Israeli hostages.
"We especially appreciate the roles of both the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration in the talks in the past couple of weeks," Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari told reporters in Doha.
"They were working in tandem together here in Doha and beyond in the region to make sure that a deal happens."
He said the final issues being negotiated were how the deal would be implemented.
"It is difficult for me, especially with the previous experiences that you are all aware of, to set any time frame for the announcement, except to say that today we are at a point that this is the closest point we have been to a deal over the past months," Mr Al-Ansari said.
Deal needs Israeli cabinet's approval
If a deal is reached in Doha, it still needs to be agreed to by Israel's security cabinet.
That could highlight deep and ongoing tensions within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government, with calls from far-right ministers for a deal to be scrapped in favour of ongoing military force against Hamas in Gaza.
A vote of the security cabinet does not have to be unanimous for the Israeli government to agree to the terms of any pact.
"The deal that is being formed, is a deal made for Hamas," Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said in a video posted to social media.
He urged his cabinet colleague, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, to join him in quitting if a deal is agreed to.
"Together, we can go to the prime minister and inform him that if he goes ahead with the deal, we will resign from the government."
Mr Netanyahu has held meetings with Mr Ben-Gvir and Mr Smotrich in recent days in an attempt to sway their views on any deal.
ABC/Reuters
