White House: Israeli hostage deal in Gaza close, but challenges remain

The ongoing negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza have entered their final stages, with an agreement potentially within reach before Donald Trump takes office as President of the United States.

Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor to President Joe Biden, shared this update during an interview with CNN, emphasizing both the proximity and the challenges of achieving a deal, Caliber.Az reports.

“We are very close. But at the same time, it still means we’re far away because until the finish line is crossed, no agreement has been reached,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan revealed that Biden’s Middle East advisor, Brett McGurk, has been in Doha for over a week, conducting intense discussions to finalize the agreement. Doha has served as a key venue for the negotiations, where the remaining details of the deal are being ironed out.

“We are determined to use every remaining day of our time in the administration to achieve this,” Sullivan stressed, highlighting the administration's urgency as it nears the end of its term.

President Biden has been receiving daily updates on the progress of the talks, Sullivan noted. Furthermore, the President is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the coming days to discuss the situation further.

Notably, Israel and Hamas are engaged in negotiations to secure a ceasefire and facilitate the release of hostages held in Gaza. These discussions, mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, have encountered multiple delays but have recently shown signs of progress. High-level officials, including Israel's Mossad chief David Barnea and U.S. Middle East adviser Brett McGurk, are currently in Doha working to finalize the agreement.

The proposed arrangement involves a phased ceasefire, with an initial phase focusing on the release of hostages in exchange for a temporary halt in hostilities. Key issues under negotiation include the extent of Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners. The conflict, which began with a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, has resulted in significant casualties and displacement, with over 46,000 Palestinians reported killed.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have been actively involved in these efforts. In a recent phone call, Biden emphasized the urgency of reaching a ceasefire and securing the release of hostages before the upcoming U.S. presidential inauguration on January 20. Netanyahu updated Biden on the progress of the negotiations and the directives given to the Israeli delegation in Doha.

By Khagan Isayev