Mughrabi and Maayan Lubell DOHA/CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Negotiators were near to hammering out the final details of a ceasefire in Gaza on Wednesday after marathon talks in Qatar, and the U.S. and Egyptian leaders promised to stay in close contact about a deal over the coming hours.

The terms of a deal between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages are being finalised, a Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations has told the BBC. It comes as White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said a truce and hostage deal could be done "this week".

Negotiators were trying on Tuesday to clinch agreement on the final details of a ceasefire in Gaza after marathon talks in Qatar, with the involved parties saying a deal was closer than ever. Both Egypt and the U.

U.S., Qatari and Egyptian mediators shuttled between the Israeli and Hamas delegations in Doha on Tuesday, where officials said a deal to halt the war is near.

Officials say Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages.

Diplomats expressed cautious optimism on Tuesday that an agreement between Israel and Hamas may be within reach. But they also warned that it was not signed yet.