Palestinian militant group Hamas was near a truce agreement with Israel, the group's chief said in a statement, according to Reuters.

 

The news came even as the deadly assault on Gaza continued and rockets were being fired into Israel.

 

Hamas officials were "close to reaching a truce agreement" with Israel and the group has delivered its response to Qatari mediators, Ismail Haniyeh said in a statement sent to Reuters by his aide.

 

The statement gave no more details, but a Hamas official told Al Jazeera TV that negotiations were centred on how long the truce would last, arrangements for delivery of aid into Gaza and the exchange of Israeli hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, Reuters said.

 

Both sides would free women and children and details would be announced by Qatar, which is mediating in the negotiations, said the official, Issat el Reshiq.

 

Israel's Channel 12 television quoted an unidentified senior government source saying "they are close" but giving no further details.