A ceasefire agreement has finally been established in Gaza, marking a significant milestone following over 15 months of intense conflict between Israel and Hamas. Mediation efforts, spearheaded by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, have been ongoing for a considerable time, often coming close to finalization only to face frustrating interruptions.

This week, negotiations successfully reached a conclusion in Doha, Qatar, with each side presenting its foremost negotiators to partake in discussions. Here’s an overview of the key figures involved in forging the agreement:

**David Barnea**
As the head of Israel’s intelligence agency, Barnea played a central role in Israel’s negotiation team from the beginning. Collaborating with the chief of Israel’s Shin Bet security agency and various political and military advisors to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Barnea engaged closely with officials from the Biden administration. Although he was the most prominent member of the Israeli delegation, he maintained a low profile concerning his personal stances during the talks.

**Ronen Bar**
Leading Israel’s Shin Bet security agency, Ronen Bar has also been significantly involved in negotiations. His agency deals with issues related to Palestinian security detainees, and according to the recent agreements, some of these prisoners are scheduled to be released by Israel in exchange for hostages. Bar has been at the helm since 2021 and took responsibility following the catastrophic Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, emphasizing that inquiries into the failures would be addressed post-war.

**Brett McGurk**
Serving as the top Middle East advisor for President Joe Biden, McGurk has been meticulously drafting the ceasefire agreement derived from discussions between the two parties. With a career spanning more than twenty years in U.S. Middle Eastern policy, he has engaged with influential leaders in the region about conflicts involving Hamas and Hezbollah, often traveling back and forth to facilitate talks.

**Steve Witkoff**
As special envoy to the Middle East for President-elect Donald Trump, Witkoff has held discussions separately with both Netanyahu and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, a crucial mediator in the negotiations. A notable figure in Florida’s real estate industry and co-chair of Trump’s inaugural committee, Witkoff has maintained a steady communication line with Biden’s foreign policy team to align both administrations’ efforts regarding the ceasefire.

**Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani**
The prime minister and foreign minister of Qatar, Al Thani has taken the lead role in mediating negotiations. He has actively engaged with Hamas throughout the process, facilitating communication as Israel and the militant group have not interacted directly. The most critical talks took place in Doha over recent weeks, with Al Thani announcing that the ceasefire is set to commence on Sunday.

**Hassan Rashad**
The head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Agency, Rashad has also served as a liaison with Hamas during the negotiations. He assumed office in October 2024, taking over from Abbas Kamel, who had previously mediated the first ceasefire talks in November 2023. Numerous discussions occurred in Cairo, leading the mediators to schedule further meetings there to discuss how to implement the deal effectively.

**Khalil al-Hayya**
Currently leading Hamas’ political bureau, al-Hayya is the primary negotiator for the group. Although based in Qatar, he avoids direct contact with Israeli or American officials, instead using Egyptian and Qatari mediators. His role gained significance following the death of Yahya Sinwar, the former Hamas leader who orchestrated the October 7 attacks. Al-Hayya, regarded as a more moderate figure compared to Sinwar, previously managed negotiations in 2014 and has been with the organization for a long time, surviving an Israeli airstrike that took his family members’ lives in 2007.