London, January 13, 2025 – Mediators presented a final draft of a ceasefire deal to Israel and Hamas on January 13, following a midnight breakthrough in talks attended by envoys of both U.S. President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump, according to an official briefed on the negotiations.
The draft, presented by Qatar in Doha, includes terms for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. The talks involved the chiefs of Israel’s Mossad and Shin Bet spy agencies, Qatar’s prime minister, and Steve Witkoff, who will become U.S. envoy when Trump returns to the White House on January 20.
The official described the next 24 hours as pivotal to reaching the deal, with both sides describing progress at the talks. A senior Israeli official mentioned that a deal could be sealed within a few days if Hamas responds to the proposal.
The United States, Qatar, and Egypt have been working for over a year to end the war in Gaza, with both sides agreeing in principle to halt fighting in exchange for the release of hostages and Palestinian detainees.