We're hearing conflicting reports about the timing of the news conference in Doha.

Initially, reports from Qatar suggested it was imminent. We're now hearing the update could be held at 19:00 local time (16:00 GMT), or even later.

There are also reports it may be the Qatari prime minister's spokesman delivering the update, rather than the PM himself.

It's a fast-moving situation in Doha as months of negotiations come to a head - we'll have all the latest on this page.

Blinken gave details on how Gaza could be governed post-ceasefirepublished at 15:42 Greenwich Mean Time 15 January

15:42 GMT 15 January

Tom Bateman
State Department correspondent

Last night, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed Joe Biden’s hopes that a ceasefire deal was imminent. Beyond that, this was a significant speech that contained new details.

He laid out for the first time the plan the administration wants to hand over to President Trump for post-war Gaza. The bottom line here is it didn’t envisage immediate full control of Gaza by the Palestinian Authority (PA) – the entity created by the Oslo Accords that has limited governance in parts of the occupied West Bank.

Critically, Gaza’s security forces would be comprised of personnel from other countries - most likely Arab states although he didn’t name them - alongside “vetted” Palestinian forces.

Likewise civil government meant to replace Hamas – rebuilding, running schools, hospitals, public funds, water etc – would be a mix of some PA, some local leaders, “international partners” and the UN.

This is a long-way from Palestinian self governance but is pitched by the Americans as an “interim” step towards “time-bound” PA control and ultimately a path to a so-called two state solution – an independent Palestinian state.

In reality the plan is a compromise designed to appease the Israeli leadership which opposes full PA control of Gaza, while also bringing in Arab support and trying to prevent long-term Israeli occupation of Gaza on the ground.

But there’s also the reality in this region that the temporarily imposed fix often ends up becoming the permanently entrenched problem.

Image source, Getty Images

The update we're expecting from Doha comes after incumbent US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last night that a deal was "ready to be concluded and implemented".

Blinken said the ball was "now in Hamas's court", adding: "If Hamas accepts, the deal is ready to be concluded and implemented."

He added the US has a goal of ending the war in Gaza and normalising relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Negotiators from Israel and Hamas appear closer to securing a Gaza ceasefire deal, after 15 months of war.

There's been reports of a breakthrough, with unnamed Israeli officials cited as saying that Hamas had agreed to the latest draft presented by Qatari, US and Egyptian mediators.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office denied the reports. There was also no immediate comment from the Palestinian side.

But now we are expecting an update from Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, who is due to hold a press conference in Doha.

His country has been hosting talks, with Israeli and Hamas teams in the same building, although not speaking directly.

Stay with us for live updates of the news conference, plus analysis from our teams in the Middle East and around the world.