Negotiators are meeting in Qatar’s capital, Doha, to finalize details of a plan to end the war in Gaza
U.S. President Joe Biden has said a ceasefire and hostage release agreement he backs is “on the verge of coming to fruition.”
Following his remarks, negotiators will meet in the Qatari capital Doha on Tuesday to finalise details of a plan to end the war in Gaza.
An official with knowledge of the talks told Reuters that negotiators had handed over a final draft of the agreement to Israel and Hamas on Monday.
Earlier in the night, “major progress” was made in the ongoing talks in Doha. Envoys of outgoing US President Biden and President-elect Donald Trump were present at the talks.
In a speech on Monday, Biden outlined his foreign policy accomplishments, saying: “This deal will release the hostages, halt the fighting, protect Israel, and allow us to significantly increase humanitarian assistance for Palestinians who have suffered terribly in the war started by Hamas.” ”
If successful, the ceasefire would end a year-long negotiations. It will also mark the beginning of the end of the Gaza war and the biggest release of Israeli hostages since the early days of the war. During a temporary ceasefire in the early days of the Gaza war, Hamas freed about half the hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the talks, said Qatar had provided both sides with a draft text on the ceasefire and the release of the hostages during the Doha talks.
“I think we can stop it, there’s a good chance,” Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told reporters on Monday. The parties are much closer to the deal. ”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the ball was in Hamas’ court. Hamas said it was willing to reach an agreement.
An Israeli official said negotiations were in the final stages to release the 33 hostages as part of the deal. According to Israeli authorities, there are still 98 hostages in Gaza.
“Progress has been made, it looks much better,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told reporters. I want to thank my American friends for making extensive efforts for an agreement to protect hostages. ”
A Hamas official said: “There has been progress on some key issues in the talks and we are working to reach a conclusion which will happen soon.” ”
The Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, after Palestinian fighters led by Hamas crossed the Gaza border and launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel.