Israel and Hamas close to ceasefire deal, Qatar says

Israel and Hamas appear close to an agreement to declare a ceasefire in Gaza and release hostages held after more than 15 months of war, the Qatari government announced Tuesday.

The mediators “managed to minimize a large number of disagreements between the two sides,” Majed al-Ansari, a spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, told reporters. Tuesday’s discussions focused on “the final details to reach an agreement”, he said.

The negotiations, mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, come after months of failed attempts to achieve a breakthrough. In recent weeks, officials familiar with the negotiations have expressed growing hope that a deal is possible, spurred by a looming deadline: the end of President Biden’s term and the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Donald J. Trump.

Mr Trump warned there would be “ALL HELL TO PAY” if the hostages were not freed by the time he became president. Biden administration officials had pushed for a deal to be part of the outgoing president’s legacy.

If Hamas and Israel reach a deal, it would bring some respite to Palestinians in Gaza, who have endured miserable conditions in displacement camps and Israel’s relentless bombardment, as well as to the families of hostages kidnapped in Israel, who have been worried for over a year. about the fate of their loved ones. A diplomat said Tuesday’s discussions focused on outstanding issues, while a Palestinian in contact with Hamas officials said they would focus on the details of how to implement a deal. Both spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy.

The nascent agreement, the diplomat said, draws heavily on previous proposals discussed in May and July.