Negotiators from Israel and Hamas are in the final stages of securing a ceasefire deal in Doha, with reports indicating progress. While unnamed Israeli officials claimed Hamas had accepted the latest draft mediated by Qatar, the US, and Egypt, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office denied these reports.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed optimism on Tuesday, stating an agreement was near, pending Hamas’s final confirmation. However, a senior Hamas official revealed that they were awaiting maps from Israel detailing troop withdrawal plans, a claim Israel has denied.
The proposed three-phase deal includes an initial six-week ceasefire. A Palestinian official suggested Hamas would release three hostages on the first day, prompting Israel to withdraw troops from populated Gaza areas. Additional hostage releases and the return of displaced Palestinians would follow in subsequent weeks. Israel anticipates releasing 33 hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Negotiations for the second phase, involving full troop withdrawal and long-term peace, are expected to commence after two weeks. Qatar’s foreign ministry expressed optimism, though it cautioned that minor details could disrupt the process.
Since the conflict began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages, Gaza’s health ministry reports over 46,700 deaths, with widespread displacement and severe shortages of essentials.
Despite ongoing talks, violence continues. Israeli airstrikes targeted over 50 locations in Gaza within the last 24 hours, killing at least 62 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry. One strike in Deir al-Balah killed 11 family members, while another on a school sheltering displaced families claimed seven lives.
Both sides face mounting pressure to finalize the agreement. Families of Israeli hostages urge swift action, while displaced Palestinians, like Amal Saleh, 54, hope for peace and a chance to rebuild their lives.
However, the war rages on, with civilians continuing to bear the brunt of the conflict, underscoring the urgency of a truce.
