In a dramatic turn of events under the starry skies of Doha, Qatar has presented Israel and Hamas with a final draft aimed at putting an end to the devastating conflict in Gaza. This breakthrough, which came after marathon talks that ran late into the night, saw the involvement of some high-stakes players, including an envoy from U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, according to a well-informed source who spoke to Reuters.
The ceasefire agreement, structured alongside the promise of releasing hostages, was the brainchild of negotiations that brought together the heads of Israel’s Mossad and Shin Bet spy agencies, Qatar’s prime minister, and Steve Witkoff, the soon-to-be U.S. envoy once Mr. Trump takes office next week. Quite the star-studded lineup, if you will. And, in the mix, officials from the outgoing U.S. administration have also been reported to play a part.
“Now hang tight, because the next 24 hours could be crucial,” the source added, hinting at a possible resolution.
While both sides were cautious not to confirm a final agreement just yet, they acknowledged significant progress. A senior official from Israel hinted that if Hamas responds favorably to their proposal, a deal could be inked within days. Meanwhile, a Palestinian official involved in the discussions described the updates from Doha as “incredibly promising.” The atmosphere seems to be charged with a cautious optimism — “gaps were narrowing,” they noted, “and there’s a serious push for an agreement if everything runs smoothly.”
For more than a year now, the United States, Qatar, and Egypt have been weaving their diplomatic efforts into a fabric of negotiations aimed at ceasing hostilities in Gaza, albeit with little to show for it thus far. As Donald Trump prepares to take the reins on January 20, many view this timeline as an unspoken deadline. The president-elect has ominously warned of “hell to pay” should the hostages held by Hamas remain in limbo before he takes office, while outgoing President Joe Biden has also been putting his foot down, urging a resolution before he bids adieu to his term.
It was reported that the conversations ran long into the night, with Witkoff actively coaxing the Israeli representatives and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani putting pressure on Hamas officials to seal the deal. Adding another layer to the talks, Egypt’s chief intelligence officer, Hassan Mahmoud Rashad, was also on hand, reflecting the multi-faceted nature of these discussions.
Since late November, Witkoff has made multiple trips to Qatar and Israel, including a recent journey to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just before he headed back to Doha. Meanwhile, Biden placed a call to Netanyahu, reiterating the urgent need for both a truce in Gaza and a swift return of hostages, coupled with a much-needed surge of humanitarian aid — a tricky balance to strike under the current circumstances.
The onset of this latest conflict traces back to October 2023, when a sudden ambush by Hamas fighters resulted in the tragic deaths of 1,200 people in Israel and the abduction of over 250 hostages. In the wake of this, Palestinian health officials report that the toll in Gaza has spiraled, with more than 46,000 lives lost amid the ruins of a once-vibrant territory, now suffering dire humanitarian consequences and left in tatters.
Although there’s been a general consensus on the principle of halting fire in exchange for the release of hostages and Palestinian detainees, the road to agreement is fraught with complications. Hamas insists that any deal must not only halt the violence but also ensure an enduring peace and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. In stark contrast, Israel has stood firm on the premise that it won’t consider an end to hostilities until Hamas is dismantled.
Adding to the tension, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a staunch nationalist, has publicly rebuffed the latest proposals, labeling them a “surrender” and a “catastrophe for Israel’s national security.” It seems the stakes couldn’t be higher, and as the dust settles on the latest round of talks, only time will tell if this diplomatic endeavor can break the cycle of violence that has gripped the region.
Report By Axadle
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
