Arab, U.S., and Israeli officials have informally agreed to a draft deal for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages. If all goes according to plan, the agreement will be finalized this week by Israel and Hamas, as reported by CBS News. Pending final approval of the details and a subsequent vote by the Israeli government, implementation could begin this weekend, according to sources from the U.S. and the region. This potential breakthrough could see President Biden’s ceasefire efforts come to fruition in the waning days of his term, with the incoming President-elect Donald Trump overseeing its execution.
Negotiations have been ongoing in Doha for the past few weeks, with talks continuing as of Tuesday. Brett McGurk, a top advisor to President Biden on the Middle East, has been actively involved in finalizing the deal, in close coordination with Steve Witkoff, designated as a special Middle East envoy by Trump. Witkoff recently met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel, while the Qatari prime minister is scheduled to meet with Mossad Director David Barnea to iron out the agreement’s specifics.
While the Biden administration has been working on a comprehensive plan for Gaza post-Israeli withdrawal, the responsibility for its enforcement would likely fall to the Trump administration. U.S. officials acknowledge that this governance plan is ambitious, requiring continued pressure on both the Netanyahu government and Hamas to uphold the agreement’s later stages.
Recent developments have indicated progress towards a deal, with U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan expressing optimism about the direction of the negotiations. Israeli sources have also reported positive momentum, suggesting that an agreement could be reached within a short timeframe. The proposed ceasefire deal involves a phased approach, with the initial phase focusing on the release of hostages, particularly women, children, and individuals over 50 years old, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. Subsequent phases will be negotiated as the process unfolds.
President Biden recently discussed the ongoing negotiations with Prime Minister Netanyahu, aligning on the broad framework proposed last year. The current deal being considered mirrors this arrangement, with provisions for the gradual release of hostages and prisoners as part of the ceasefire agreement. As discussions progress, there is cautious optimism that a final agreement could be reached soon, marking a significant step towards peace in the region.
Individuals aged 50 or older. On the first day of a proposed ceasefire, Hamas plans to release 3 hostages, as per a document obtained by CBS News. By the seventh day, the group intends to release 4 more hostages. Subsequently, Hamas has committed to releasing 3 hostages captured from Israel every seven days, prioritizing the living individuals initially before proceeding to return the bodies of those who have perished.
As part of the hostage and prisoner exchange process, a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza is envisioned to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid, as outlined in the draft document reviewed by CBS News. This ceasefire would enable international aid organizations and the United Nations to resume their activities in Gaza, initiating the much-needed reconstruction of critical infrastructure such as water, electricity, and sewage systems. Additionally, negotiations are anticipated to transpire concerning the subsequent stages of the agreement.
The second phase of the proposed agreement is slated to encompass the liberation of all Israeli male hostages and the withdrawal of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) from Gaza, per the information disclosed in the CBS News document.
Concurrently, the third phase, which will be partially shaped during the earlier stages, is expected to encompass the exchange of deceased hostages and prisoners’ remains, the commencement of Gaza’s reconstruction efforts, and the reopening of its borders.
Despite ardent mediation efforts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, the negotiation process has encountered repeated obstacles pertaining to the specifics of the hostage and prisoner exchanges, the IDF’s withdrawal, and the permanency of the proposed ceasefire.
It is noted that Hamas and other factions in Gaza continue to retain approximately 100 hostages, seized during the tragic events of the October 7, 2023 assault. Regrettably, militants claimed the lives of around 1,200 individuals during the aforementioned attack while also abducting 250 more.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 46,000 Palestinians have lost their lives due to Israel’s response to the events of October 7. The majority of Gaza’s population, estimated at 2.3 million individuals, have been forced to flee their homes. Despite the dire circumstances, humanitarian organizations are encountering significant challenges in delivering vital aid, with experts warning of the looming threat of famine.
Contributors to this report include Marwan Al-Ghoul, Michal Ben-Gal, and Mais Al-Bayaa.
In a separate incident, a concerning near-miss occurred between two passenger jets over Phoenix airport.
Furthermore, Senator Wicker has responded to Peter Hegseth’s testimony during a Senate confirmation hearing, expressing his views on the matter.
