The chief of Hamas said on Tuesday that the Hamas group was near a truce agreement with Israel, even as the deadly assault on Gaza continued and rockets were being fired into Israel, Paralel.Az reports citing Reuters.

Hamas officials are "close to reaching a truce agreement" with Israel and the group has delivered its response to Qatari mediators, Ismail Haniyeh said in a statement.

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