High-level ceasefire talks appeared to gain momentum on Monday as Arab and American negotiators pushed for an agreement to end fighting in Gaza and free Hamas hostages before President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office on January 20.
It was not clear whether the parties had reached a resolution on major disputes that have proved intractable in previous talks, but officials briefed on the talks have expressed optimism in recent days about the possibility of finalizing an agreement.
For months, repeated talks saw rising hopes dashed days later, with Israel and Hamas blaming each other for the conflict.
If the agreement is reached, it will bring relief to the Palestinian people in Gaza, who have endured terrible conditions in displacement camps and Israeli bombings, as well as the families of hostages taken from Israel, who have been suffering for months wondering about their fate. dear ones.
Who are the players?
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The leading mediators in these negotiations are Qatar and Egypt, blocking messages between Israel and Hamas. The prime minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, and the director of the General Intelligence Service of Egypt, Maj. General Hassan Rashad, were senior officials representing their countries in the negotiations.
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David Barnea, head of Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad, is one of Israel's main negotiators, along with Ronen Bar, head of Shin Bet, the domestic security agency, and Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon of the Israeli army. Ophir Falk, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's foreign policy advisor, also participated in key meetings related to the negotiations.
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Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official based in Doha, is the militant group's chief negotiator and has been in contact with Qatari and Egyptian officials about the details of a potential deal.
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The United States used its influence to encourage Israel and Hamas to sign the agreement. Bill Burns, the director of the CIA, and Brett McGurk, the White House chief of staff, toured the Middle East, pressing for progress in the talks. Steve Witkoff, Mr. Trump in the Middle East, he has also been to Qatar and Israel, meeting with senior officials there.
What are they discussing?
Israeli officials hope to secure the release of at least 100 hostages held in Gaza since the Hamas-led offensive in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which started the subsequent war in the area.
Hamas leaders want to end the war in Gaza, which has greatly weakened the group's armed forces and government, displaced nearly two million people, and turned cities into ruins. Hamas officials also said they want Israel's complete withdrawal from Gaza, the return of displaced people from the southern enclave to the north, and the influx of reconstruction materials.
What are the biggest obstacles?
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A major obstacle to the success of the talks has been the permanence of the ceasefire. Although Hamas wants the war to end completely, Mr Netanyahu said he wanted a “partial” deal that would allow Israel to resume fighting after freeing the hostages.
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Israel has been seeking vague language in the text of the agreement that leaves room for hostilities to begin at some point, according to a Palestinian person familiar with the matter and two Israeli officials. Mr. Netanyahu fears that his right-wing allies could take over his government and jeopardize his political future if he agrees to a deal to end the war in Gaza, analysts say.
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Hamas has not indicated that it will compromise on its demand for an end to the war. Last week, Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, told a rally in Algeria that there must be a “total end to violence.”
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