Israel, Hamas nearing agreement on ceasefire deal

Israeli officials have indicated that a ceasefire in Gaza is now more achievable than at any point in the past year, suggesting that a long-anticipated deal to free hostages and increase humanitarian aid to the region could be imminent.

A working group from Israel is currently in Doha, Qatar, to reconnect with mediators in case there is a breakthrough in talks with Hamas, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

This optimism has been echoed by senior members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet. Defence Minister Israel Katz told a parliamentary committee in Jerusalem that a truce is "closer than ever." Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also expressed more hope than a month ago when speaking with families of the hostages. 

Additionally, Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli mentioned on Army Radio that a deal might be possible and, from what he understands, it would involve all 100 hostages, prioritizing humanitarian cases before others. No official response has yet been received from Hamas. An agreement to at least pause the Israel-Hamas war would bring an end to over a year of setbacks, during which repeated talks of a potential deal were raised but quickly collapsed.

Qatar and Egypt are mediating the negotiations, with the US providing oversight. Recent visits by US officials to the region may have helped move the process forward. While most details remain confidential, two Israeli officials revealed that the ceasefire plan being discussed would occur in stages, beginning under outgoing US President Joe Biden and continuing after Donald Trump takes office on January 20. 

Adam Boehler, appointed by Trump as the special envoy for hostage affairs, is currently in Israel meeting with Netanyahu and other officials. Trump has expressed his desire to have the hostages freed before his new term begins. The first phase of the proposed deal would involve the release of "humanitarian" hostages—women, the ill, and those older than 51—in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. This would be followed by a six- to seven-week ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from parts of Gaza, and talks would begin on a permanent truce. 

During this period, hundreds of aid trucks would enter Gaza daily, delivering critical food, water, and medical supplies to a population facing a severe humanitarian crisis, according to the UN and aid organisations. In the second phase, the remaining hostages, mostly military-age men, would be released in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners. The third stage would focus on the reconstruction of Gaza and the return of the bodies of hostages, as about half of the 100 still held are believed to be deceased.

By Naila Huseynova