Gaza ceasefire deal in ‘final phase’: Qatar | News about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Mediators say that the negotiations are at the “closest point” so far, with expectations of an agreement soon.
A ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is at its “closest point” yet, Qatar said.
Negotiations to end the 15-month conflict are in their final stages, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said at a press conference in Doha on Tuesday. Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, has been trying to broker a deal for months.
“The draft agreement has been submitted to both Hamas and Israel and the main obstacles have been resolved on key contentious issues between the two sides,” al-Ansari said.
“The current talks in Doha are focused on finalizing the remaining details,” he continued. “Today we are the closest we have ever been to an agreement.”
The spokesman predicted that the implementation would ceasefire agreement would occur “very shortly after it is completed.”
“We believe that we [Qatar] we managed, through negotiations and through our partners in Egypt and the United States, to minimize many disagreements between both sides,” al-Ansari added.
However, he cautioned against setting too high expectations until an official announcement is made.
“We believe we’re in the developed stage, we believe we’re in the final stage, but obviously, until there’s an announcement, there won’t be an announcement,” he said. “So we shouldn’t get too excited about what’s happening now. But we certainly hope so.”
The US, Egypt and Qatar have spent the past year trying to mediate the end into the 15-month war and secure the release of dozens of prisoners taken during a Hamas-led offensive on October 7, 2023. About 100 Israelis are still being held inside Gaza, although the Israeli military believes at least one-third of them are dead.
Israel’s military bombardment of Gaza has killed more than 46,000 people and wounded nearly 110,000, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
What’s in the deal?
According to details leaked to Israeli media, the ceasefire agreement being reached will be implemented in three phases.
In the first, 33 Israeli prisoners held in Gaza will be released. Israel will release 50 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for each female soldier freed and 30 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the remaining civilians captured.
The second phase will begin 16 days later, focusing on negotiations for the release of the remaining prisoners. The final phase will deal with long-term arrangements, including an alternative government in Gaza and reconstruction efforts.
The reports also said that Israel would completely withdraw from the Philadelphia Corridor – the strip of land between the borders of Gaza and Egypt – at the end of the first phase of the deal.
