"US President-elect Trump and Biden administration work towards truce as negotiations approach final stages in Doha."
January 13, 2025: Doha: Negotiators are close to finalising a ceasefire agreement that could see Hamas release 33 Israeli hostages before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump next Monday. This marks a significant development in efforts to end the conflict initiated by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
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Israeli officials believe that Hamas and its allies still hold 94 hostages, with at least 34 confirmed dead. As part of the initial 42-day truce, 33 hostages—some possibly deceased—will be released, according to Bloomberg reports.
Truce Deal in Final Stages
Speaking on Monday, President-elect Trump expressed optimism about the deal. “We are very close to getting it done,” he said in an interview with Newsmax, predicting that the agreement might be finalised by the end of the week.
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President Joe Biden echoed similar sentiments during a State Department address, stating that both sides are “on the brink of a proposal.” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan added that “pressure is building for Hamas to agree,” signaling a “distinct possibility” for the deal’s success.
Brett McGurk, the Biden administration’s Middle East envoy, has been working tirelessly in the region, coordinating with Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and Israeli officials. Sullivan emphasised the significance of finalising the agreement before Biden’s term ends.
Terms of the Agreement
The ceasefire proposal includes the release of hostages in phases. During the first stage, Israeli forces will remain stationed along the Philadelphi Corridor, a strategic area along the Egypt-Gaza border. Disagreements over the buffer zone’s size have delayed prior negotiations, with Hamas advocating for a return to pre-October 7 boundaries and Israel demanding a 2,000-meter-wide zone.
Additionally, residents of northern Gaza will be allowed to return freely to their homes, albeit under undisclosed “security arrangements.” Israel has stipulated that Palestinian prisoners responsible for killing Israelis will not be released to the West Bank but may be sent to Gaza or relocated abroad.
Cautious Optimism
Despite progress, officials have urged caution. Sullivan noted, “We’ve been here before… and haven’t crossed the finish line.” However, with the Biden administration collaborating with Trump’s team, there’s hope for a positive outcome.
Key Meetings and Next Steps
A final round of discussions is scheduled in Doha on Tuesday, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to meet with hostages’ families on the same day. Negotiations for the second phase of the truce will commence 16 days after the agreement’s implementation.
As global stakeholders await the truce’s formalisation, the potential agreement could pave the way for long-term peace in the region.
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GazaTruceDeal, IsraelHamasConflict, HostageRelease, MiddleEastPeace, USForeignPolicy, CeasefireNegotiations,
