DOHA - Israel and Hamas have been negotiating over a peace deal which would bring a temporary halt to fighting and allow hostages to be released.

Drafts of the deal negotiated with international partners including the US show 10 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel could be released in exchange for every hostage held in Gaza.

The agreement would stop short of fulfilling Hamas’ main demand for a permanent end to the war.

The deal says Hamas will agree to release all women, children, elderly and wounded captives, but stops short of covering men of fighting age.

One of the key aims is to have a ceasefire deal in place in time to stop fighting for the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, which begins on March 10.

Draft texts of the deal suggest it includes:

Phase One

A six-week ceasefire, the first extended truce of the war, which has raged for five months so far, with just a week-long pause in November.

Fighting would cease in time to stop the planned Israeli assault on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are sheltering.

Aerial reconnaissance operations over Gaza are to stop for eight hours a day.

Dozens of hostages held by the militants would be freed in return for 400 of Palestinian prisoners.

Initially, Hamas would free only women, children, the elderly and the sick.

Gradual return of all displaced civilians to the northern Gaza strip, excluding men of fighting age.

Phase Two

Aid to Gaza would be ramped up. In the draft agreement seen in February, it was laid out that this would include 200,000 tents and 60,000 caravans for Gazans, as well as the rehabilitation of hospitals and bakeries.

The entry of heavy machinery and equipment to remove rubble and assist with other humanitarian purpose – on the condition that Hamas pledges not to use these machines and equipment to threaten Israel.