Gaza Agreement Reaches the “Final Draft” Stage

14th January 2025

3 minutes read

Gaza Agreement Reaches the "Final Draft" Stage

Overnight, significant progress was made in ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, with Qatar presenting a “final draft” of the agreement to Hamas and Israel.

According to Reuters, citing a source familiar with the talks, Qatar handed Hamas and Israel a “final draft” aiming to establish a ceasefire and release hostages, with the goal of ending the war in Gaza.

The source revealed a breakthrough in Doha after midnight during discussions between Israel’s intelligence chief, David Barnea, an envoy of President-elect Donald Trump to the Middle East, and Qatar’s Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that U.S. and Arab mediators had made significant progress in the negotiations, though no final agreement had been reached.

Three officials confirmed the overnight progress and stated that the coming days would be crucial in ending more than 15 months of conflict.

One official and a Hamas source noted that several obstacles remained. Another source close to the discussions confirmed a breakthrough, stating that a proposed deal was on the table. Israeli and Hamas negotiators were now set to consult their respective leaders for final approval.

The source added that Qatari mediators exerted renewed pressure on Hamas to accept the deal, while Zev Weitkoff, Trump’s envoy, pushed Israel after recently joining the talks and visiting the region. Both sides received a copy of the draft agreement, with the next 24 hours deemed critical.

An Egyptian official acknowledged the progress but estimated that a few more days would be needed. Both sides aim to finalize an agreement before Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

Another official stated that talks were on solid ground, although not yet concluded, suggesting that an agreement was possible before Trump’s swearing-in.

Despite the optimism, a Hamas official emphasized unresolved issues, including Israel’s commitment to ending the war, details of troop withdrawal, and the exchange of prisoners. Egypt confirmed these matters remained under discussion.

Hours earlier, the White House announced a call between U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which they discussed ongoing efforts to secure a deal before Biden’s departure on January 20.

In a statement, the White House said Biden “emphasized the urgent need for a Gaza ceasefire, the release of hostages, and increased humanitarian aid made possible by halting the fighting under the agreement.”

In a CNN interview, Biden’s National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that Brett McGurk, Biden’s envoy to the Middle East, was in Qatar working on the final details of the draft to be presented to both sides.

However, Sullivan refrained from predicting whether an agreement would be reached by January 20, saying: “We are very, very close, but that also means we are far until we truly cross the finish line.”

For over a year, the Biden administration, alongside Egypt and Qatar, has been working to mediate a deal to end the Gaza war and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. However, negotiations repeatedly stalled due to disagreements over hostage exchanges for Palestinian prisoners and the nature of the ceasefire.

Hamas has insisted on not releasing remaining hostages without a full cessation of hostilities, while Netanyahu pledged to continue fighting until achieving “complete victory” over the armed group.

Current discussions revolve around a phased ceasefire, with Netanyahu committed only to the initial phase: a partial release of hostages in exchange for a temporary suspension of fighting lasting weeks. Permanent ceasefire negotiations and other issues would follow the first phase.

Hamas demands full withdrawal and a complete end to the war, hoping the initial phase leads to this outcome.

Meanwhile, Israeli hostage families are pressuring Netanyahu for a deal, while Palestinians remain skeptical about a ceasefire. “We hear about negotiations every day, but we see nothing… When it materializes on the ground, we’ll believe there’s a truce,” said Mazen Hamad from Khan Younis.