Doha (TDI): Negotiators met in Qatar on Tuesday hoping to hammer out final details of a ceasefire in Gaza, with mediators and the warring sides all describing an agreement as closer than ever.
More than six hours after negotiations began, but there was still no official word on an outcome.
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari told a media conference that discussions on the final details were underway after both sides were presented with a text.
US President Joe Biden, whose government has been taking part alongside an envoy of president-elect Donald Trump, said a deal was close.
Under the proposal, Israel will receive around one hundred prisoners, or their bodies, in return for releasing one thousand Palestinian prisoners.
Also Read: Qatar, UK Hold Talks on Gaza Ceasefire and Syria Crisis
Hamas said the talks had reached the final steps and that it hoped this round of discussions would lead to an agreement after mediation by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, according to Reuters.
An Israeli official said talks had reached an important phase although some details needed to be finalized.
Deal to Free Prisoners, Boost Aid
Biden said on Monday the agreement would free Israeli prisoners, stop the fighting, provide security to Israel and allow the US to considerably surge humanitarian aid to the Palestinians who suffered terribly in this war.
If successful, the phased ceasefire could halt fighting that decimated Gaza, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, made most of the enclave’s population homeless and is still killing dozens a day.
That in turn could ease tensions across the wider Middle East, where the war has fuelled conflict in the West Bank, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iraq, and raised fears of all-out war between Israel and Iran.
Also Read: Hamas Approves Hostage List Amid Gaza Airstrikes
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it was up to Hamas to accept an agreement that was already set for implementation.
Since October 2023, Israeli forces have killed over 46,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials.
