CAIRO — Significant strides were made by U.S. and Arab mediators overnight in their efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, as well as to facilitate the release of numerous hostages in Gaza. However, a finalized agreement has yet to be established, as officials noted on Monday.
Four unnamed officials revealed that advancements had indeed occurred, indicating that the next few days could be crucial in bringing an end to over 15 months of turmoil that have unsettled the Middle East. A U.S. official involved in the negotiations remarked that while all parties are “closer than we’ve ever been,” the outcome remains uncertain and could still collapse.
Additional sources, including one linked to Hamas, acknowledged the existence of significant challenges ahead. U.S. leaders have previously indicated that they were nearing a deal several times within the past year, only for discussions to ultimately stall. One individual familiar with these ongoing negotiations conveyed that a potential deal was freshly proposed and would now require the endorsement of Israeli and Hamas leaders.
Mediators from Qatar increased pressure on Hamas to endorse the agreement, while U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, urged Israeli officials to consider it. Witkoff, who recently became involved in the negotiations, has been in the region for several days. The mediators presented each side with a draft deal, with the following 24 hours deemed crucial for its progress.
An official from Egypt expressed optimism about the negotiators’ consensus but anticipated a few additional days to finalize anything. The aim remains to solidify a deal before Trump’s inauguration on January 20. An anonymous Hamas representative mentioned several contentious topics that still need to be reconciled, including Israel’s commitment to ending hostilities and the specifics surrounding the withdrawal of troops, as well as negotiations on hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
The Qatari palace disclosed that Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met both with the Hamas delegation and with Witkoff and Brett McGurk, President Joe Biden’s chief adviser on Middle Eastern affairs. Al Thani also held a phone discussion with President Biden, who emphasized the immediacy of reaching an agreement.
Efforts to broker peace in this prolonged conflict have faced persistent obstacles over recent months. The Biden administration, alongside Egypt and Qatar, is working to conclude a resolution to the deadliest conflict witnessed between Israelis and Palestinians, which has also seen numerous hostages taken by Hamas during their assault in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
Disagreements linger over the logistics of a hostage exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel and the broader terms of a ceasefire. Hamas has stated they will not release their captives without a cessation of the conflict, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly pledged to continue military actions until “total victory” is achieved over Hamas.
Discussions are currently focused on a phased ceasefire. Netanyahu has shown commitment only to a partial hostage release in return for a temporary halt in hostilities. Prospects for a more sustainable ceasefire are expected to be negotiated later. Additionally, Hamas demands a complete troop withdrawal and a full end to the conflict, seeking the initial phase as a step toward that ultimate goal.
Such a deal could potentially destabilize Netanyahu’s coalition government, which includes hardline factions that have warned against excessive concessions. While opposition members have indicated support for a hostage release, the far-right members’ resistance could create instability in the future. Ten extremist lawmakers even sent a letter to Netanyahu voicing their dissent against a plan that does not allow for a continued Israeli military presence in strategic Gaza regions—a stance that has consistently been rejected by Hamas.
Netanyahu’s administration appears to be banking on the influence of a prospective Trump administration, which includes supporters of West Bank settlements, to keep his coalition partners in line. Biden, eager to cement an agreement before he departs from office next week, spoke with Netanyahu about the negotiations over the weekend. A notable presence in Doha during these talks was Israel’s Mossad intelligence chief, David Barnea, indicating that high-ranking Israeli officials are once again engaged in the discussions.
With only a brief ceasefire occurring earlier in the conflict, families of approximately 100 hostages held in Gaza are imploring Netanyahu to expedite negotiations for their return. Meanwhile, Palestinians are looking for respite from Israel’s military operations, which have caused widespread devastation and displaced nearly 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. As Israeli airstrikes continued on Monday, reports indicated at least 14 deaths in Gaza, including members of a family. Concurrently, five Israeli soldiers were reported killed in northern Gaza, marking a total of 15 military casualties in the area within the past week, potentially galvanizing public support for a ceasefire.
Israel’s offensive in Gaza has led to over 46,000 Palestinian deaths, according to local health authorities, predominantly affecting women and children. The body count does not distinguish between militants and civilians. The Hamas-led assault resulted in around 1,200 fatalities and approximately 250 individuals taken hostage on October 7, the day that sparked the current violence.
In Jerusalem, protests erupted as about 1,000 individuals blocked a major city entrance, rallying against any potential deal and carrying signs denouncing concessions to Hamas. In Tel Aviv, groups advocating for the hostages spelled out “HOME!” at the entrance of a prominent military base. Ruby Chen, whose son was among those taken hostage, expressed a desire for clarity from the government regarding the negotiations, voicing concerns over whether any deal would encompass all hostages or merely a selection.
As anticipation builds, the families of those captured by Hamas have traveled to Qatar to advocate for resolutions that include all hostages, even those deceased. Meanwhile, a resident of Khan Younis in Gaza remarked on the persistent lack of tangible outcomes despite ongoing negotiations, emphasizing the community’s need for visible progress toward a truce.
