US, Qatar, Hamas, and Israeli officials now believe a ceasefire in Gaza is imminent following a “breakthrough” in talks at midnight. The discussions, which involved envoys from both outgoing US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump, have raised hopes for a deal.
Biden stated that the ceasefire and hostage release deal he had been advocating for was “on the brink” of success, with Hamas expressing interest in reaching an agreement. He emphasised that the deal would free hostages, halt the fighting, ensure security for Israel, and significantly increase humanitarian aid to Palestinians suffering due to the war initiated by Hamas.
An official briefed on the talks explained that Qatar had presented the ceasefire and hostage release text to both sides during discussions in Doha. The meeting also included Israel’s Mossad and Shin Bet heads, as well as Qatar’s prime minister. Another round of talks is scheduled for Tuesday morning to finalise the remaining details, with both Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Biden’s envoy Brett McGurk expected to attend, as they had on Monday.
An Israeli official stated that negotiations were advancing regarding the release of up to 33 hostages as part of the deal. Hamas’ delegation in Doha reported positive progress after a meeting with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, described the negotiations as being at a “pivotal” moment, with significant progress in narrowing the gaps between the two sides. “I think there is a good chance we can close this… the parties are right on the cusp of being able to close this deal,” he said.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed optimism, noting that the parties were “closer than we’ve ever been” to reaching a deal and that the next steps were now in Hamas’ hands. Blinken also emphasised that the proposed deal was based on a framework Biden had proposed in May and highlighted the importance of continued support from Trump for the deal, making Witkoff’s participation “critical.”
While Israel’s Kan radio reported that Israeli officials had briefed Israel’s leadership on the negotiations, Israel, Hamas, and Qatar’s foreign ministry have not confirmed or commented publicly on the details.
Both sides, however, reported progress in negotiations, with a Hamas official stating that key issues had advanced and that they were working to finalise the remaining points. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar acknowledged the progress, thanking the US for its efforts to secure a hostage deal.
For months, the warring sides had agreed in principle to halt the fighting in exchange for the release of hostages. However, Hamas has insisted that any deal must lead to a permanent end to the war and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while Israel maintains that the war will not end until Hamas is dismantled.
With Trump’s inauguration on 20 January approaching, it is now widely considered a de facto deadline for finalising a deal. Trump has stated that there would be “hell to pay” if hostages are not freed before he takes office, while Biden has pushed hard for a resolution before leaving office.
The United States, Qatar, and Egypt have been engaged in over a year of negotiations aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza.
An Egyptian security official confirmed that the draft sent to both sides was not a final agreement but rather an effort to resolve outstanding issues that had stalled previous talks. Sullivan mentioned that Biden would soon speak with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi about the negotiations.
In Israel, Channel 12 reported that health institutions were preparing for the intake of weak and sick hostages.
The talks, which continued into the early hours of Monday, saw Witkoff pressuring the Israeli delegation in Doha and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani urging Hamas to finalise the agreement.
Israel launched its war in Gaza in response to a Hamas attack in October 2023, where over 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 hostages taken, according to Israeli figures. Since then, over 46,000 people have been killed in Gaza, with the region devastated and most of its population displaced.
