Breakthrough in Doha brings Gaza ceasefire deal within reach
Negotiators are set to convene in Doha on Tuesday to finalize the details of a plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza. This development comes after U.S. President Joe Biden declared that a ceasefire and hostage release agreement, which he has strongly advocated for, is "on the brink" of being realized.
According to an official familiar with the negotiations, mediators presented Israel and Hamas with a final draft of the agreement on Monday, following a significant "breakthrough" during late-night talks involving envoys from both the outgoing President Biden and President-elect Donald Trump. In a speech highlighting his foreign policy accomplishments, Biden stated, "The deal... would free the hostages, halt the fighting, provide security to Israel, and allow us to significantly increase humanitarian aid to the Palestinians who have suffered greatly in this war initiated by Hamas."
If successful, the ceasefire agreement would mark the conclusion of over a year of intermittent negotiations and lead to the largest release of Israeli hostages since the conflict's early stages, when Hamas exchanged around half of its prisoners for 240 Palestinian detainees held by Israel. The official, who spoke anonymously, mentioned that Qatar presented the draft ceasefire and hostage release agreement to both parties during the talks in Doha.
President Biden's National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, expressed optimism on Monday, saying, "I think there is a good chance we can close this... the parties are on the verge of finalizing this deal." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that the next steps depended on Hamas, as he prepares to unveil a post-war plan for Gaza on Tuesday, according to Axios.
Hamas signaled its willingness to reach an agreement to end the fighting, which has profoundly destabilized the Middle East. An Israeli official confirmed that negotiations were in advanced stages for the release of up to 33 hostages. Israeli authorities estimate that 98 hostages remain in Gaza. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar acknowledged the progress, stating, "It looks much better than before. I want to thank our American allies for their significant efforts to secure a hostage deal." Similarly, a Hamas official noted, "Negotiations over key issues have advanced, and we are working to conclude the remaining aspects soon."
The conflict began in October 2023 when Hamas fighters launched an assault across Israeli borders, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the capture of over 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports. In response, Israel launched an extensive military campaign in Gaza. Palestinian health officials report that the conflict has led to over 46,000 deaths in Gaza, with widespread destruction and displacement of the enclave's population.
While both sides have broadly agreed on a ceasefire contingent on the release of hostages and detainees, significant disagreements remain. Hamas has demanded a permanent end to the war and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, whereas Israel insists the conflict will not end until Hamas is dismantled.
