DOHA. Negotiators are set to meet in Doha on Tuesday to finalize a proposed plan to end the ongoing war in Gaza. The development comes after U.S. President Joe Biden announced that a ceasefire and hostage release agreement, which he has been advocating for, is “on the brink” of materializing.
An official involved in the negotiations disclosed that a final draft of the agreement was presented to Israel and Hamas on Monday following a significant “breakthrough” during midnight talks. Representatives from both the outgoing Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump’s team attended these discussions.
“The deal… would free the hostages, halt the fighting, provide security to Israel, and allow us to significantly surge humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians who suffered terribly in this war that Hamas started,” President Biden stated in a speech on Monday, emphasizing his administration’s foreign policy efforts.
If successful, the agreement would mark the largest release of Israeli hostages since the initial days of the conflict. In October 2023, Hamas freed approximately half of its prisoners in exchange for 240 Palestinian detainees held by Israel.
Under the proposed plan, the first phase involves the release of 33 hostages, including children, women, elderly men, and the wounded. Negotiations on the release of remaining hostages and the retrieval of deceased individuals’ remains are expected to follow after the 16th day of the ceasefire.
The deal also includes phased troop withdrawals from Gaza, security arrangements along the Philadelphi corridor on Gaza’s southern border, and provisions for unarmed residents of northern Gaza to return under strict mechanisms to prevent the transfer of weapons.
Jake Sullivan, the U.S. National Security Advisor, expressed optimism, saying, “I think there is a good chance we can close this… the parties are right on the cusp of being able to close this deal.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that Hamas must make the next move, while Hamas signaled its willingness to proceed. “The negotiation over some core issues made progress, and we are working to conclude what remains soon,” a Hamas representative said.
Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar acknowledged advancements in the negotiations. “There is progress; it looks much better than previously. I want to thank our American friends for the huge efforts they are investing to secure a hostage deal,” he remarked.
The conflict, which began when Hamas launched an assault on Israel in October 2023, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. Israeli figures indicate that 1,200 Israelis were killed, and over 250 hostages were taken. Palestinian health officials report that more than 46,000 people have died in Gaza, with much of the region devastated and most of its population displaced.
With President-elect Trump’s inauguration on January 20, mediators are under pressure to finalize the agreement. Trump has warned of severe consequences if the hostages are not released before he assumes office. “There will be hell to pay,” he said, underscoring the urgency.
The presence of Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff alongside Biden’s envoy Brett McGurk has reportedly been “critical” in aligning both administrations’ support for the deal.
The proposed agreement faces several obstacles, including Hamas’ insistence on a permanent end to the war and Israel’s demand for the dismantling of Hamas. Additionally, the number and status of Palestinian detainees to be released remain contentious.
As talks resume in Doha, hopes are cautiously high for an agreement that could bring relief to a region deeply scarred by violence and displacement.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
