Negotiators between Israel and Hamas in Doha, Qatar, are finalizing the final details of a complex, multi-phased ceasefire in Gaza.
More than eight hours of talks in Doha had fueled optimism. Officials from mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States, as well as Israel and Hamas, said on Tuesday that an agreement on a ceasefire in the besieged Palestinian enclave and the release of hostages was closer than ever.
But a senior Hamas official told Reuters that the Palestinian group had not yet given its response because it was still waiting for Israel to hand over maps showing how its forces would withdraw from Gaza.
If the deal is realized, the planned phased ceasefire could halt the fighting that has devastated Gaza, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, made most of the enclave's population homeless and is still killing dozens every day.
Under the plan, Israel would take back about 100 hostages and the bodies of those captured in the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas. In exchange, it would release Palestinian prisoners. The latest draft is complex and sensitive, Reuters points out. Under its terms, the first steps would feature an initial six-week ceasefire. The plan also includes a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from central Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza.
Even if the warring parties agree to a deal at the table, that deal still needs further negotiations before there can be a final ceasefire and the release of all hostages.
If all goes well, the Palestinians, Arab states and Israel should agree on a vision for post-war Gaza, a massive undertaking that includes security guarantees for Israel and billions of dollars in investment for reconstruction.
Despite efforts to reach a ceasefire, the Israeli army, the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency and the air force struck about 50 targets across Gaza in the past 24 hours. The United Nations said it was preparing to expand humanitarian aid to Gaza as a possible ceasefire approached, but there were still uncertainties about border access and security. (A2 Televizion)
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