A final draft agreement has been presented to Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza, following intense negotiations involving envoys from both the Biden and Trump administrations. The draft, focused on a ceasefire and the release of hostages, was delivered by Qatar to both sides during talks in Doha. The next 24 hours are crucial for reaching a final agreement.
Mediators delivered a final draft of a potential deal to end the war in Gaza to Israel and Hamas on Monday, following a significant breakthrough in negotiations involving envoys from both the Biden and Trump administrations. The draft, focusing on a ceasefire and the release of hostages, was presented by Qatar to both sides during talks in Doha.
The talks included high-ranking officials such as the heads of Israel's Mossad and Shin Bet spy agencies, Qatar's prime minister, and Steve Witkoff, who will become US envoy when Trump assumes presidency next week. A US source confirmed the presence of outgoing Biden administration's envoy Brett McGurk.The official who disclosed the draft emphasized that the next 24 hours are crucial for reaching a final agreement. Israel's Kan radio, citing an Israeli official, reported that both Israeli and Hamas delegations in Qatar had received the draft and briefed their respective leaders. While neither side officially confirmed the receipt of a final draft, officials on both sides expressed progress in the negotiations. A Hamas official, speaking anonymously, stated that negotiations on core issues had made advancements and they were working to finalize the remaining points soon. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar echoed the sentiments, highlighting the progress made and thanking American officials for their efforts in securing a hostage deal. He also noted the coordination between the Biden and Trump teams in the negotiations. The United States, Qatar, and Egypt have been engaged in talks for over a year to end the Gaza war, but previous attempts have been unsuccessful. In Cairo, an Egyptian security official told Reuters that the draft sent to both sides is not the final agreement but aims to resolve outstanding issues that hindered previous negotiations. The official characterized the situation as a race against time, with Trump's inauguration on January 20th seen as a de facto deadline. Trump has stated that there will be 'hell to pay' unless Hamas releases hostages before he takes office, while outgoing President Biden has also been pushing for a deal before his term ends.The official who disclosed the draft said talks continued until the early hours of Monday, with Witkoff urging the Israeli delegation in Doha and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani pushing Hamas officials to finalize the agreement. The head of Egypt's general intelligence agency, Hassan Mahmoud Rashad, was also present in Doha as part of the talks. While Rashad departed Doha on Monday, an Egyptian source indicated that the intelligence delegation remained active in the negotiations. Witkoff has made several trips to Qatar and Israel since late November, including a visit to Doha on Friday and a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu in Israel on Saturday before returning to Doha. Meanwhile, Biden spoke with Netanyahu on Sunday, emphasizing the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the return of hostages, accompanied by an increase in humanitarian aid facilitated by a cessation of hostilities under the deal.The Israeli military launched its assault on Gaza following Hamas fighters' incursion across its borders in October 2023, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of over 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Since then, over 46,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials, with significant damage to the enclave and widespread displacement of its population.Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a staunch nationalist who has previously opposed attempts to reach a deal, condemned the latest proposals as a 'surrender' and a 'catastrophe for the national security of the state of Israel.' Despite the ongoing negotiations, bloodshed continued in Gaza on Monday, with Israeli airstrikes claiming the lives of at least 21 people, including five killed in an Israeli strike on a Gaza City school sheltering displaced families.Fighting has been particularly intense along the northern edge of Gaza in recent months, with Israel asserting it is preventing Hamas from regrouping, while Palestinians accuse Israel of attempting to permanently depopulate a buffer zone. Hamas's armed wing spokesman, Abu Ubaida, claimed that their fighters attacked Israeli forces in the area, killing at least 10 soldiers and injuring dozens of others over the past 72 hours
GAZA WAR CEASEFIRE HOSTAGE RELEASE ISRAEL HAMAS QATAR UNITED STATES TRUMP BIDEN
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