Hamas is close to a truce agreement with Israel, the group’s leader, Ismail Haniyeh, told Reuters on Tuesday, without giving further details.

Hamas officials are “close to reaching a ceasefire agreement” with Israel and the group gave its response to Qatar and other mediators, Ismail Haniyeh said.

Two sources familiar with the ongoing talks told AFP that a tentative deal includes a five-day truce, consisting of a ceasefire on the ground and restrictions on Israeli air operations in southern Gaza.

In exchange Hamas is expected to release 50 to 100 hostages, Israeli citizens and prisoners of other nationalities, but no military personnel.

Hamas official Izzat el Reshiq in turn told Al Jazeera that the terms of the agreement they will specifically include the release of Israeli women and children from Gaza in exchange for Palestinian women and children from “occupational prisons”.

The US president also expressed his belief that a truce would be reached. Joe Biden during a Thanksgiving ceremony. When asked by a reporter if a deal was imminent, Biden crossed his fingers and said: “I believe that”.

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reports that Israeli forces have hit communication towers in Gaza City and northern Gaza, disrupting communications.