Talks between Israel and Hamas on a prisoner swap through diplomatic channels are said to have been “constructive”.

Important differences between the parties will be discussed in additional meetings this week, while the terms are becoming clearer.

According to a statement released by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Press Office, the meeting in the French capital Paris was attended by CIA Director William Bill Burns, the head of Israel’s foreign intelligence service Mossad David Barnea, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdurrahman Al Thani and the head of Egyptian intelligence Abbas Kamil.

The statement said the talks were “constructive” and added that important differences between the parties will be discussed in additional meetings this week.

Israeli state television KAN reported that talks were ongoing on “the release of most of the prisoners in exchange for a two-month suspension of hostilities”, with Hamas demanding a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

According to the Israeli military, there are still 136 Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip.