Al Jazeera is reporting — citing the Israeli Broadcasting Authority — that “there was progress in negotiations to release some of the captives but nothing is closed yet”.

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority, citing a source, said that children and women were expected to be released in exchange for a ceasefire of several days and for the release of female and minor detainees from Israeli prisons.

The release would take place in phases during the halt in hostilities, it said. The length of the ceasefire would be determined by the number of captives to be released, the source added.

The report comes after Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said that only “minor” changes remain for a final deal.