Inside an opulent clubhouse along the shores of Doha, negotiators felt the tension of prolonged discussions as the clock approached 3 a.m. On the ground level, a delegation from Hamas, led by a figure who narrowly escaped an Israeli airstrike that claimed the lives of seven family members, meticulously reviewed another proposal intended to cease hostilities in Gaza. Above them, advisors to Israel’s intelligence chief, determined to track down those accountable for the October 7, 2023, attack that initiated the conflict, scrutinized the same proposal.
Amid pressure from Qatari, U.S., and Egyptian intermediaries, there was a question of whether these adversaries, who traditionally refused direct communication, had finally reached a consensus to pause the fighting and secure the safe return of numerous Israeli hostages. “There was deep suspicion on both sides. Trust was nonexistent,” remarked an Egyptian official involved in the discussions, wishing to remain anonymous. Complications arose around the details of troop withdrawal maps and demands for Hamas to provide a list of hostages believed to be alive. “Every word in the deal felt like a potential trap for either side,” he added.
By the time Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, revealed a ceasefire agreement last Wednesday evening, mediators had hurriedly worked to address concerns from both factions. Nonetheless, even as a temporary lull in fighting emerged this week, which allowed for the release of three young Israeli women from captivity and resulted in Israel freeing dozens of Palestinian prisoners, the agreement remained precarious.
The journey that led to this deal between Israel and Hamas extends back over a year, but the recent convergence of unlikely partners and timely circumstances illuminated why a resolution was finally achieved now. “In the past week, everything fell into place like never before, leading to meaningful negotiations after 15 months of violence and loss,” stated Mehran Kamrava, a government professor at Georgetown University’s branch in Qatar.
This agreement emerged at a unique political juncture, with one U.S. president preparing to transfer power to another. Both leaders were keen on securing a deal that would see roughly 100 Israeli hostages released and put an end to the conflict triggered by the Hamas attack that resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 individuals in Israel. Palestinian health authorities report that over 47,000 lives have been lost in Gaza since the conflict began, with the tragic toll encompassing both militants and civilians, of whom more than half are believed to be women and children.
In the small but affluent nation of Qatar, mediation took place under a government that positions itself as a neutral facilitator in a restive region, hosting the largest U.S. military establishment in the Middle East alongside offices for Hamas and the Taliban’s leadership. Egypt was equally motivated to diminish instability impacting its borders and maritime routes, seeking to keep negotiations progressing smoothly.
The unique circumstances brought Sheikh Mohammed together with unexpected partners. President Joe Biden sent Brett McGurk, a seasoned Middle East adviser who has served under both Republican and Democratic administrations. Concurrently, Donald Trump reached out to Steve Witkoff, a real estate mogul from the Bronx with scant diplomatic experience but a longstanding relationship with the then-president-elect.
The agreement reached proposed ongoing negotiations that could prove challenging, yet hold the promise of releasing remaining hostages and concluding a war that has ravaged much of Gaza and unsettled the entire region. Pressures mounted on both sides as they grappled with these negotiations.
Ultimately, after a series of arduous days, the negotiators were able to finalize the deal, following months of disputes surrounding the release of hostages. In late May, Biden presented a framework that had been shaped significantly via discussions with the Qatari and Egyptian mediators. This initial proposal called for a staggered agreement aiming toward a long-term calm—language crafted to appease both factions.
However, talks faced setbacks even before an airstrike attributed to Israel in late July resulted in the death of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political bureau. Subsequent attempts to revive discussions faltered when Israeli troops unearthed the remains of six hostages from a Gaza tunnel in August. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu remarked that those responsible for such horrors did not genuinely seek a deal.
Increased pressure mounted on Hamas particularly after Israeli forces eliminated Yahya Sinwar, a key planner of the October 7 attack, and executed an offensive against Hezbollah, Hamas’s longstanding ally in Lebanon. Exasperated by the stalled talks, Qatari officials announced they would suspend mediation until both parties displayed a commitment to negotiate.
Weeks later, Trump’s decision to involve Witkoff, who had limited prior ties to the Middle East, marked a new chapter in the mediation efforts following his $623 million sale of the Park Lane Hotel in New York to Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund. Witkoff traveled to Doha in late November, urging negotiators to pinpoint challenges stalling discussions, and rapidly proceeded to engage with Israeli officials, leading to a restart in negotiations.
“The concerted pressure from Witkoff and McGurk was critical; Qatar similarly exerted influence on Hamas,” noted a source familiar with the talks. Consensus on who drove progress in the negotiations varied based on perspective. Some pointed to Trump’s combative remarks on social media as pivotal in instilling a sense of urgency for the parties involved.
By January, significant strides occurred when Hamas agreed to disclose a list of hostages it would release during the initial agreement phase. McGurk swiftly flew to Doha, followed closely by Witkoff. The urgency escalated when Witkoff managed to secure an audience with Netanyahu, leading to heightened negotiations in the days that followed.
As discussions unfolded, leading negotiators and their teams shuttled between floors, striving for mutual concessions. The two sides maintained distance, with delegations never directly encountering one another throughout the deliberations. Eventually, lengthy dialogues continued late into the night at the Qatari prime minister’s private office, where precise language within the agreement was constantly debated.
Despite extensive efforts over the course of the negotiations, last-minute complications arose, prompting delays even as the announcement was anticipated. Claims surfaced from Israel that Hamas sought to revisit previously settled terms, while Hamas dismissed these allegations as unfounded. A senior U.S. official noted that last-minute demands from Hamas were met with firm resistance from the negotiating team.
Facing a waiting press on Wednesday, the Qatari Prime Minister engaged separately with both Israeli and U.S. officials, ultimately arriving at a moment where he could announce that an agreement was reached—albeit three hours after the anticipated time. Follow-up discussions persisted the subsequent day to finalize implementation specifics.
In the aftermath, Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed hope that the truce would foster a climate of goodwill, recovery, and rebuilding. However, uncertainty loomed over the longevity of the agreement. The accord stipulates that Israel and Hamas will reconvene discussions in a little over a week to address the subsequent phase, which aims to secure the release of all remaining hostages and establish a permanent ceasefire. Observers remain skeptical about the challenges that lie ahead in achieving this goal.
