Negotiators in Doha are set to finalize a ceasefire agreement for Gaza on Tuesday, following a pivotal “breakthrough” in talks that have raised hopes of ending the ongoing Israeli war, Reuters reported.
Qatar’s foreign ministry, on its part, said on Tuesday that negotiations in Doha for a ceasefire-prisoner exchange deal were in their “final stages”.
“We do believe that we are at the final stages… certainly we are hopeful that this would lead very soon to an agreement,” foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told a news conference, adding that “until there is an announcement… we shouldn’t be over-excited about what’s happening right now.”
It also announced that obstacles to the deal had been overcome.
“During the past months, there were underlying issues, major issues between the two parties unresolved. These issues were resolved during the talks in the past couple of weeks, and therefore we have reached a point where the major issues that were preventing a deal from happening were addressed,” al-Ansari told a news conference.
Meanwhile, Hamas issued a statement revealing that it contacted and held consultations with the leaders of the Palestinian factions and informed them of the progress reached in the ongoing negotiations in Doha.
The movement affirmed that it will pursue communications and consultations until the ceasefire-prisoner exchange agreement is concluded, knowing that it is in its final stages, as per the statement.
US President Joe Biden had indicated that a ceasefire and the release of captives could be imminent.
According to a source familiar with the negotiations, a final draft of the agreement was presented to both “Israel” and Hamas on Monday, after midnight discussions attended by envoys from both Biden and President-elect Donald Trump.
A Palestinian source close to the talks told Reuters that the deal could be finalized as early as Tuesday if discussions proceed smoothly.
The draft text, which outlines the terms for a ceasefire and the release of Israeli captives, was reportedly presented by Qatar to both parties in Doha.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed that the ball was now in Hamas’ court, amid expectations that he will unveil a post-war recovery plan for Gaza later on Tuesday, according to Axios.
Final phase of Gaza truce talks
Meanwhile, AFP, citing a source familiar with the negotiations aimed at ending the war in Gaza, reported that a “final round” of Gaza truce talks is scheduled to begin Tuesday in Qatar.
The source, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the talks, confirmed that the meetings “are aimed at finalizing the remaining details of the deal.”
The talks will involve the heads of the Israeli intelligence agencies, the Middle East envoys for both the incoming and outgoing US administrations, and Qatar’s prime minister.
Key details
If the deal succeeds, the gradual ceasefire could mark the end of more than a year of sporadic negotiations and result in the largest release of Israeli captives since the early stages of the war, when Hamas released roughly half of its captives in exchange for 240 Palestinian detainees.
In further detail, an Israeli official stated that negotiations were in advanced stages for the release of 33 of the remaining 98 Israeli captives, marking the first phase of the deal. In exchange, “Israel” will release 1,000 Palestinian detainees, according to a Palestinian source close to the talks, who added that the first phase would last for 60 days.
Meanwhile, Hamas fighters allegedly involved in Operation Al-Aqsa Flood will not be released.
The Israeli official mentioned that the first stage of the agreement would involve the release of 33 captives, including “children, women, female soldiers, men above 50, and the wounded and sick,” as well as a gradual, partial withdrawal of invading Israeli units.
Commenting on the number of detainees, The Times of Israel considered, citing a copy of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press, that “Israel” will pay a steep price to secure the release of female soldiers being held captive.
Among the 33 would be five female Israeli soldiers, each of whom would be released in exchange for 50 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 convicted security prisoners who are serving life sentences.
Security measures will be implemented along the Philadelphi border corridor with Egypt, located on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip, with “Israel” set to withdraw from portions of the area following the initial days of the agreement.
Source: Al Mayadeen English Website