Inside an opulent clubhouse along Doha’s waterfront, the atmosphere was charged with tension as the clock approached 3 a.m. Negotiators were under pressure after months of inconclusive negotiations. On one floor, representatives from Hamas were meticulously analyzing yet another offer aimed at halting the conflict in Gaza, while on the upper floor, Israeli advisers were doing their own due diligence on the proposal. Qatari, U.S., and Egyptian mediators were urging both sides to reach a consensus. The two factions, deeply enmeshed in enmity, were so divided that they were unwilling to communicate with each other directly.
An Egyptian official familiar with the discussions, who wished to remain anonymous, shared that both parties approached every detail in the agreement with a sense of mistrust, interpreting the terms as potential traps. The negotiations had stalled over contentious points regarding Israel’s troop withdrawal locations and Hamas’s requirement to provide a list of living hostages. Eventually, last Wednesday evening, Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, declared a ceasefire after mediators worked hard to resolve last-minute objections from both sides.
Following the ceasefire, three Israeli women were freed from captivity and Israel granted the release of a number of Palestinian prisoners, signaling that the fragile agreement managed to hold. This deal emerged at a crucial moment in U.S. politics, with one president preparing to hand over power to another—both eager to facilitate the release of approximately 100 Israeli hostages and conclude a conflict that escalated dramatically after Hamas orchestrated an attack in which around 1,200 Israelis lost their lives. Reports suggest that the conflict has resulted in over 47,000 deaths in Gaza, with Palestinian health officials noting that a significant proportion of the casualties were women and children.
The scenario saw Sheikh Mohammed collaborating with unlikely partners for mediation. Outgoing President Joe Biden assigned Brett McGurk, a seasoned expert with experience in both Republican and Democratic administrations, to the talks, while former President Donald Trump sent Steve Witkoff, a real estate mogul with minimal diplomatic experience but a long-standing relationship with Trump. The nuanced agreement they crafted called for ongoing negotiations, which are expected to be just as complex, yet hold the potential to facilitate the release of remaining hostages and to potentially halt a conflict that has severely destabilized Gaza and aggravated tensions throughout the region.
In late May, Biden proposed a framework aimed at achieving “sustainable calm” between the opposing sides. However, the dialogue had stagnated even prior to a deadly bombing in late July that resulted in the death of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas’ political faction. Efforts by mediators to rekindle discussions were further complicating after Israeli forces discovered the remains of six hostages in a Gaza tunnel. The situation escalated when Israeli forces killed Yahya Sinwar, a key figure behind the October 7 assault, and launched a major military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, a close ally of Hamas.
Consequently, Qatari officials announced a suspension of their mediation efforts until both Hamas and Israel exhibited a genuine willingness to engage in negotiations. Weeks later, Trump’s initiative to send Witkoff, notably known for his financial dealings with Qatar, marked the beginning of renewed talks. According to officials familiar with the situation, Witkoff and McGurk played a crucial role in urging Israel to cooperate while Qatari representatives pushed Hamas towards negotiation.
An Egyptian official recounted the exasperation of successfully influencing Hamas to make concessions in the prior summer, only to find Prime Minister Netanyahu imposing additional conditions. An anonymous Israeli official acknowledged that the death of Sinwar and diminishing Iranian influence compelled Hamas to engage meaningfully, leading to a potential flexibility in discussions. Moreover, they viewed Trump’s remarks about consequences for not releasing hostages as a significant factor in exerting pressure on both Hamas and Israeli officials.
Mediators recognized the collaborative efforts between Witkoff and McGurk as crucial to the process. A breakthrough was achieved in early January when Hamas consented to disclose a list of hostages they would release in the preliminary phase, as reported by a source informed about the negotiations. On January 11, Witkoff traveled to Israel, conducting a meeting with Netanyahu while McGurk participated from Doha. Netanyahu agreed to facilitate the return of Israeli intelligence and internal security leaders to Doha for further negotiations, which were primarily held in the prime minister’s private office.
At various points, mediators maneuvered between the two adversarial delegations located on different floors. However, the Israeli and Hamas negotiators never met face-to-face. Following extensive discussions and hours of negotiation, the teams shifted their efforts to a government-owned waterfront facility, striving to resolve final disputes until the early hours of Wednesday morning.
After navigating complex discussions surrounding buffer zones and the identities of prisoners to be released, a tentative agreement was reached, although last-minute complications threatened a delay. While Israel accused Hamas of attempting to alter previous arrangements, Hamas dismissed these claims as unfounded. A senior U.S. official involved in the negotiations indicated that although Hamas made multiple last-minute requests, strict adherence to the established terms was maintained.
Ultimately, Sheikh Mohammed brought the Hamas negotiators into his office, engaging in private discussions with both Israeli and U.S. representatives. After a three-hour delay, he stepped forward to announce that the parties had successfully reached an agreement.
Looking ahead, Israel and Hamas are scheduled to reconvene for discussions in just over a week to negotiate the second phase, which is expected to encompass the release of all remaining hostages and aims toward a lasting ceasefire. Analysts predict that the upcoming negotiations may prove even more challenging.
