Final Draft of Ceasefire Deal Presented to Israel and Hamas Amid Ongoing Negotiations

On January 13, mediators presented Israel and Hamas with a final draft aimed at ceasing hostilities in Gaza, according to an official familiar with the negotiations. This occurred after breakthrough discussions that took place at midnight, involving envoys from the administrations of both Joe Biden and Donald Trump, as well as high-ranking officials including the chiefs of Israel's intelligence agencies and Qatar's prime minister.

The U.S. envoy, Steve Witkoff, who is expected to take on his role once Trump resumes the presidency, participated in the talks alongside Brett McGurk, the outgoing envoy from the Biden administration. An Israeli official indicated that significant momentum was building in the negotiations, emphasizing that the next 24 hours could be crucial for finalizing the deal.

Israeli media reported that both Israeli and Hamas delegations had received the draft in Qatar, and that Israeli officials had briefed their leadership. While neither side has officially confirmed the completion of the draft, they have communicated a sense of advancement in the discussions. An Israeli representative expressed optimism that a deal could be finalized in a matter of days, dependent on Hamas's response to proposals, and a Palestinian official noted that developments from Doha appear highly positive, with narrowing gaps suggesting a strong push towards an agreement. The ongoing efforts by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt to resolve the conflict have persisted for over a year, yet have yet to yield a resolution.