Israel and Hamas reach closest ceasefire yet in Gaza, officials say

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Qatar's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that Israel and Hamas are currently closest to an agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages.

Ministry spokesman Majid Ansari told a news conference in Doha that Qatar has been negotiating with the United States and Egypt and has submitted a draft agreement to both parties.

“We are closer to an agreement than at any time in the past few months,” he said. “These are negotiations and things remain fluid, but we are particularly optimistic.”

A diplomat with knowledge of the negotiations said a deal could be reached as early as Tuesday or Wednesday and would take effect 48 to 72 hours after being announced. “They agreed on all the major issues,” the diplomat said. “It's just logistical and minor issues that are still being discussed.”

Efforts to end the 15-month war, the deadliest in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and secure the release of the 98 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have repeatedly failed, with both sides Refusal to make necessary concessions. Come to an agreement.

A man inspects a damaged vehicle after an Israeli attack on a residential area in Gaza City on Tuesday ©Omar Alqata/AFP/Getty Images

But Israel and Hamas also expressed cautious hope on Tuesday about the prospects of an eventual deal. An Israeli official said the negotiations were at a “critical period” and that an agreement was “close” but “not yet reached.” Hamas said negotiations had entered the “final stages.”

Donald Trump has launched a series of diplomatic offensives since his re-election as US president, warning that “there will be a heavy price to pay” if the hostages, seven of whom hold US citizenship, do not accept the offer, rekindling efforts to reach an agreement. hope for agreement. It will be released before the inauguration next week.

Joe Biden's administration has also been pushing for a deal before the end of his term, with the outgoing president saying on Monday that “we're on the verge of a deal.”

Israeli officials said the war began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, in which militants killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostages. Israel's devastating retaliatory offensive has killed more than 46,000 people and worsened the enclave's humanitarian catastrophe, according to Palestinian officials.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have been trying for more than half a year to broker a multi-phase deal that would see Hamas release remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons, a ceasefire and massive aid to Gaza.

The first phase of the deal will involve a truce of approximately 42 days, during which 33 hostages, including children, women, the elderly and the sick, will be released.

Diplomats with knowledge of the negotiations said three hostages would be released on the first day of the deal and others would be released every seven days during the first phase.

In exchange, the number of Palestinian prisoners released will depend on how many of the 33 are still alive, the Israeli official said, adding that Israel's assumption was that a “majority” of them were still alive.

Israeli officials added that on the 16th day of the preliminary truce, the two sides would begin negotiating a second phase of the deal, during which the remaining hostages would be released in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners.

In total, Israel will release “hundreds” of Palestinian prisoners, including some convicted of murder, officials said, although security arrangements surrounding their release are among the issues still under negotiation.

The official said that during the first phase of negotiations, Israel would retain “assets” including Gaza territory and high-value prisoners to ensure the eventual release of all Israeli hostages.