Talks in Doha on a Gaza ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages are nearing completion, with Qatar, the key mediator, stating that an agreement is “very close”. According to our Gaza correspondent, Rushdi Abualouf, the proposed deal involves three phases, starting with the release of three hostages on the first day, followed by Israel’s withdrawal of troops.
The negotiations have been ongoing for months, with repeated efforts to broker a ceasefire since a temporary truce broke down in November 2023. The war, triggered by Hamas’s attack on southern Israel, has resulted in significant loss of life, with over 46,600 people killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Envoys for both US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump have claimed credit for the progress in talks. However, Qatari mediators caution that both sides could still disagree on details, potentially jeopardizing the deal.
A timeline of key events reveals the complexity of the negotiations:
- 31 May 2024: US President Joe Biden outlines an Israeli draft ceasefire deal.
- 9 November: Qatar suspends its mediation efforts, citing the need for Israel and Hamas to shift their positions.
- 20 November: The US blocks a separate Gaza ceasefire draft resolution at the United Nations Security Council.
- 27 November: Israel agrees to a ceasefire with Lebanon, ending its war with Hezbollah.
- 28 November: US President Joe Biden announces renewed efforts to reach a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
- 17 December: Indirect talks enter a “decisive and final phase,” with a senior Palestinian official and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz expressing optimism.
- 4 January: Indirect ceasefire talks resume in Qatar.
- 13 January: The BBC reports that Israel and Hamas are on the brink of a ceasefire agreement.
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