Israel and Hamas are negotiating for the first time in months on the details of a possible agreement to release Israeli detainees and a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, according to Israeli officials and an informed source, according to the Axios website, which also indicated that both Israel and Hamas are under intense pressure to reach an agreement that would release detainees and begin a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, where more than 30,000 Palestinians were killed.

Since December last year, talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt have reached an impasse in discussions about a framework for negotiations, rather than the details of the actual agreement.

The current proposal being negotiated could lead to a six-week ceasefire in Gaza and the release of 40 hostages – women, female soldiers, men over 50 and men in critical medical condition – in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Ongoing efforts to reach an agreement made progress last week when Hamas responded to the hostage deal framework proposed by the United States, Qatar and Egypt.

Israeli officials reportedly said that there were still gaps between the two parties, but that Hamas' response came close to the original framework and allowed negotiations to progress toward reaching the details of the agreement.

The American framework included the release of 400 Palestinian prisoners, including 15 serving life sentences, in exchange for 40 hostages.

Hamas' response, presented last Thursday, included the release of 950 prisoners, including 150 serving life sentences.

Hamas wants to choose which prisoners will be released, especially those serving life sentences. Israel rejected this request, according to Israeli officials.

On the other hand, Israel demands that it obtain in advance a list of the names of living hostages and that the released prisoners be transferred to another country. The officials said that Hamas rejected this.

But the widest of the two gaps is Hamas's demand that the Israeli army withdraw from the corridor it established south of Gaza City, which prevents the return of Palestinians to the north of the Strip.

Another sticking point is Hamas's demand that the next phase of the deal, which could include the release of soldiers, include a permanent ceasefire.

Israeli negotiators headed by Barnea met on Monday in Doha with Qatari and Egyptian mediators led by Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, according to Axios.

A source with direct knowledge of the opening session of the talks said it was positive. The source said: “The two parties have reached some concessions and are preparing to negotiate.”

A senior Israeli official said that the Israeli negotiating team will remain in Doha to continue detailed talks with Qatari and Egyptian mediators traveling between the two parties located in separate parts of the same complex in Doha.

The official said the current round of talks could take at least two weeks. “It will be a long, difficult and complex process, but we want to try to reach an agreement,” he said.

The hostage deal is reportedly a hot-button political issue in Israel as Netanyahu's extremist coalition partners object to any deal that includes a mass release of Palestinian prisoners and could lead to a permanent ceasefire.

Last week, Netanyahu postponed a cabinet meeting to discuss the mandate of the Israeli negotiating team for several days. Israeli officials said that on Sunday he narrowed the scope of the mandate sought by negotiators in the hostage talks and set stricter red lines for what they could accept in the negotiations.

An Israeli official said that some on the Israeli negotiating team are concerned that Netanyahu's red lines will make reaching an agreement more difficult, but Mossad Director David Barnea, who heads the team, believes it is still doable.

An Israeli official said: “The negotiating team did not get what it wanted, but it got enough love.” If we get close to a good agreement, Netanyahu will offer more love.”