The exact number of Israeli women and children hostages Hamas is offering in the potential exchange of 36 Palestinian women and children prisoners the Islamist group identified is not clear, the source said.
Details about negotiations focusing on the release of 36 Palestinians from Israeli jails have not previously been reported.
The number of Israeli hostages held in Gaza also remains unclear, but it is widely believed that Hamas seized women, children, elderly people and soldiers on Saturday.
In Hamas-controlled Gaza, Israel has carried out its most intensive retaliatory strikes ever, killing some 500 people since Saturday.
While Hamas' power base is in Gaza, some leaders are based in Qatar as well as other Middle Eastern countries.
Persons:
Noa Argamani, Yoav Gallant, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Andrew Mills, Nidal, James Mackenzie, Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, Michael Georgy, Angus MacSwan
Organizations:
Reuters, Rights, Palestinian, Hamas, Saturday ., Gaza, U.S . State Department, Thomson
Locations:
Rights DOHA, GAZA, Gaza, Qatar, United States, Doha, Israel, Egypt, Iran, Jerusalem, Cairo