DOHA: Negotiations in Qatar on Tuesday aimed to finalize the details of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, with all parties, including mediators and the conflicting sides, indicating that a deal was closer than ever. However, after over six hours of talks, there was still no official confirmation of an outcome.
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed Al-Ansari, stated that discussions were focused on finalizing the details after both sides were presented with a draft agreement. US President Joe Biden confirmed that a deal was near, with efforts involving both his administration and President-elect Donald Trump’s envoy. Hamas also expressed hope that these talks, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US, would soon lead to an agreement.
Israeli officials described the negotiations as entering a critical phase, though some details were still pending. “We are close, but not there yet,” said one official. The Palestinian group Islamic Jihad, separate from Hamas but also holding Israeli prisoners, sent a senior delegation to Doha to help finalize the ceasefire terms.
Biden outlined the key aspects of the potential deal: the release of Israeli prisoners, a halt to the fighting, security for Israel, and a significant increase in humanitarian aid to Palestinians. If successful, the phased ceasefire would end over a year of intermittent talks and severe fighting, which has devastated Gaza, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, displaced most of the population, and continues to claim lives daily. It could also ease tensions across the broader Middle East, where the war has spread to the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq, raising fears of a broader conflict between Israel and Iran.
The proposed deal would see Israel recovering around 100 prisoners or their bodies taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023, in exchange for releasing 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in the first phase. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that the deal was set and it was now up to Hamas to agree to the terms.
Since the start of the conflict in October 2023, Israeli forces have killed over 46,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to health officials. Israeli airstrikes continue to target Gaza, with recent attacks killing at least 27 Palestinians, including a journalist.
With President Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, approaching, many view it as a de facto deadline for finalizing the ceasefire deal.
