President-elect Donald J. Trump also announced that a deal had been reached on the hostages, writing on social media that “THEY WILL BE FREED SOON.” Mr Trump has threatened serious consequences if Israel and Hamas do not reach an agreement before his inauguration on January 20, which some officials have credited with helping the talks move forward.

If implemented, the truce would allow the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel, after more than a year of devastating war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and destroyed much of the enclave.

Neither Israel nor Hamas have publicly endorsed the deal, but the Palestinian group said on Tuesday that the talks had entered the “final phase” and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Wednesday night that he was returning early from a trip abroad to join the discussions. in the government about hostages. Hamas said in a statement on Wednesday evening that it had responded to the proposed deal, without further clarification.

To implement the deal, Hamas’ negotiating team at talks in Doha, Qatar, must win the consent of the group’s commanders in Gaza, including Muhammad Sinwar, whose brother Yahya led the group before becoming killed by Israel in October.

Hamas officials did not respond to questions about whether Mr. Sinwar had responded to the proposal. But two Israeli security officials said the remarks Mr. Sinwar presented the draft agreement resolved and estimated that the agreement could be concluded within 24 to 48 hours.

A Hamas official familiar with the talks said its negotiators were working to finalize the details by the end of Wednesday or Thursday, but that negotiations were still ongoing and the timing was unclear.

Officials spoken to for this article spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy.

On Wednesday morning, outstanding issues included maps of how Israeli forces would be redeployed inside Gaza during the cease-fire, as well as lists of Palestinian prisoners slated for release in exchange for Israeli and foreign hostages, one of the officials said.

Israel also demanded a system to prevent armed fighters from returning to the northern Gaza Strip. Mediators are also trying to iron out details of inspections of hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians who are expected to head to northern Gaza from the south, where many are displaced, in the event of a ceasefire, the official said.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Negotiations: The latest round of negotiations is being held in Qatar, a key mediator alongside Egypt and the United States. Majed al-Ansari, a spokesman for Qatar’s foreign ministry, said on Tuesday that the two sides had overcome major differences.

In Israel, some hardline members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government have also expressed opposition to the deal. But on Wednesday, Gideon Saar, Israel’s foreign minister, he said he believed that a majority would sign the agreement if it came to a cabinet vote.

Months of shuttle diplomacy have failed to end the Gaza war, which began after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. About 105 prisoners were later released in a week-long ceasefire in November 2023 in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.

Abu Bakr Bashir and Gabby Sobelman contributed reporting.