Deal between Israel and Hamas was ready a year ago, says negotiator

A Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, which began its first phase this week, could have been implemented over a year ago, an independent Israeli negotiator revealed.

Gershon Baskin, who negotiated the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2011, revealed in The Times piece that Hamas agreed to the exact same terms as early as September 2024 during the final months of the Biden administration.

Baskin said that while Hamas accepted the deal in writing and in voice messages, the Israeli government, led by then-Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, refused to act. “This deal could have been done a long time ago,” Baskin wrote, noting that American officials also failed to push for its adoption.

According to Baskin, U.S. negotiators, including Brett McGurk, were frustrated in their attempts to convince the Biden administration to consider the plan. “In Doha, the Qataris said they could do nothing more without the American adoption of the plan; the obstacle was Israel,” he added.

Baskin said that Israeli officials had no intention of concluding a deal before a U.S. administration change. On December 26, 2024, he met with Ronen Bar, then head of Shin Bet, who told him not to use back channels, hinting that a ceasefire would be finalised “in three weeks” under President Trump. Baskin then established a back channel with Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, believing that Trump could compel Netanyahu to accept the agreement.

The ceasefire that followed included three phases. The first phase saw 33 Israeli hostages released in exchange for 1,900 Palestinian prisoners, Israeli troops withdrawing from populated areas, and humanitarian aid entering Gaza. Subsequent phases aimed for a permanent ceasefire with additional releases and full reconstruction, but progress stalled as Israel refused to move beyond the initial phase, resuming hostilities and placing Gaza under siege.

Baskin said that in September 2025, the Qatari government presented Hamas with essentially the same deal, now including the 20 remaining living hostages. Negotiations temporarily collapsed after Israel bombed the home of Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya, killing his son, an attack Hamas initially suspected involved Trump. Witkoff quickly clarified that the U.S. was not involved.

Ultimately, Trump personally pressured Netanyahu to accept the deal, and Hamas agreed despite ongoing questions over disarmament. After days of shuttle diplomacy in Sharm el-Sheikh involving U.S., Turkish, Egyptian, and Qatari mediators, the deal was finalised. Baskin described the agreement as “signed,” marking the beginning of the first phase of the ceasefire and the gradual release of hostages.

“This is exactly what happened,” Baskin concluded, highlighting that Trump’s direct involvement was crucial to compelling Israel to sign and move forward with the deal.

By Tamilla Hasanova