As Israel and Hamas negotiate the release of some 240 hostages taken in the militant group’s Oct. 7 attacks, the framework for a possible deal is beginning to emerge, although hurdles remain over the final outcome.the New York Times report in their article.

After weeks of indirect talks, mediated in part by Qatar, John Kirby, a spokesman for the US National Security Council, said on Monday: “We believe we are closer than we have ever been” but acknowledged there is “still work to be done.” Ismail Haniya, the Qatar-based political leader of Hamas, told Reuters on Tuesday that the armed group was “close to reaching a ceasefire agreement” with Israel.

What we know about the terms and outcome of the negotiations

The talks are centered around a brief truce. During the ceasefire there will be an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Israeli officials have said in recent days that the negotiations centered around the release by Hamas of 50 women and children held hostage in exchange for roughly the same number of Palestinian women and teenagers held in Israeli prisons, as well as a cessation of hostilities for several days.
An Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks, said there was still disagreement over the length of any pause and how many hostages would be freed for how many detainees.

What does Israel want?

The Israeli government has taken a public hard line on the hostages, repeatedly saying there will be no ceasefire until the captives are freed. The closed-door talks, however, suggest there may be room for variation. According to the same Israeli official, gradual exchanges have been proposed in the negotiations, but that some in the Israeli government want all hostages to be released immediately.

What does Hamas want?

Hamas has said it is seeking a full ceasefire and the release of all Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons. He also added a new condition for the release of hostages: The delivery of fuel to Gaza’s collapsing hospitals. Israel has allowed some fuel into Gaza in recent days as part of aid to United Nations workers, but has opposed more shipments because it says it could be used by Hamas for military use.

The Israeli official said any deal would require a government vote, and some right-wing Israeli politicians have suggested they would oppose any deal with Hamas. At the same time, the Israeli government is under pressure from relatives of the hostages, who demand immediate action for the release of their loved ones.