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In a significant move towards peace, US-led mediators have handed Israel and Hamas the final draft of a ceasefire proposal. This plan aims to end the ongoing war in Gaza and secure the freedom of hostages.
Those close to the situation reveal that the warring parties are closer than ever to halting this 15-month conflict. The last time they neared an agreement was in July, which unfortunately fell through.
A diplomat who is well-informed on the Doha-based discussions mentioned, “The final agreement is with all concerned parties now for their approval. We’re at a crucial point, especially after a significant breakthrough around midnight on Monday. The next day or so is critical to sealing the deal.”
The recent progress is the result of intense diplomatic activity that involved prominent figures such as Steve Witkoff, the Middle East envoy for the US president-elect Donald Trump, Israeli intelligence chief David Barnea, and Qatar’s prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani.
For months, the US, Qatar, and Egypt have been navigating the complex task of fostering a resolution to this conflict and negotiating for the release of approximately 100 hostages held by Hamas. Sadly, it is believed that over a third of these hostages are no longer alive.
Trump’s election gave new momentum to these discussions; he has been vocal about his insistence on the hostages being released before his upcoming inauguration on January 20. He has cautioned that failing this, there would be serious repercussions.
A source intimately familiar with the talks stated, “We are 98% of the way to an agreement.”
In the past, mediators have seen potential deals fall apart, primarily due to the inability of Israel and Hamas to make pivotal compromises.
However, US President Joe Biden expressed on Monday that a ceasefire linked to a hostage release was finally “within reach.”
Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, described the current phase as a “pivotal point in the negotiations,” and noted that a deal could be completed within the week.
Negotiators are now waiting for feedback from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and Hamas leaders.
Senior Hamas officials have communicated their group’s commitment to achieving a ceasefire in discussions with a high-ranking Turkish diplomat.
Another source close to the negotiations indicated that Israel is awaiting a nod from Hamas’s leadership on the latest proposal before entering final negotiation phases.
Netanyahu’s shift seems to be influenced by Trump’s prioritization of ending this war, a source explained, “The only real change here is Trump. Netanyahu wants to be in sync with Trump” and reach an agreement.
The mediators have been working on a phased approach to conclude the conflict, which began when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, causing 1,200 deaths and kidnapping 250 individuals, as claimed by Israeli sources.
The consequent Israeli military retaliation has led to over 46,000 Palestinian casualties, according to local officials, and has decimated large parts of Gaza.
The main sticking points involve the redeployment of Israeli forces, the return of displaced Palestinians to the north of Gaza, and the specifics of Palestinian prisoners being swapped for hostages.
Israel is pressing Hamas to confirm which hostages are still alive.
Hamas has been firm that any deal should culminate in a permanent ceasefire with Israeli forces fully withdrawing from Gaza—a condition Netanyahu has consistently opposed.
The latest proposal suggests a six-to-eight week initial truce in which 34 hostages, including women, the elderly, and the injured, would be released.
In exchange, several hundred Palestinian prisoners would be freed from Israeli prisons.
Netanyahu may encounter resistance from extreme right-wing factions within his coalition, who oppose both ending the conflict and freeing Palestinians with terrorism convictions. But it is believed that he can muster sufficient political backing to ratify the agreement.
Extreme right-wing ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have previously threatened to bring down Netanyahu’s government if a ceasefire is finalised.
This opposition has been a key factor in derailing previous negotiation efforts, sources suggest.
On Monday, finance minister Smotrich labeled the potential agreement as a “catastrophe” and “surrender,” urging Israel to take an aggressive stance. He insists on overtaking the entire strip and responding with overwhelming force until Hamas surrenders and releases the hostages.
Netanyahu held discussions with both Ben-Gvir and Smotrich on Sunday, aiming to convince them to remain within the government, should a ceasefire deal be reached.
