Gaza could see its first major ceasefire in months as U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari mediators race to finalize terms in what officials call the \"critical hours\" of negotiations. After marathon talks in Doha, all sides expressed cautious optimism, with a deal hinging on final details like Israel’s troop withdrawal plans and hostage releases.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari confirmed a draft agreement was presented to Israel and Hamas, adding that \"both parties are closer than ever to ending this cycle of violence.\" U.S. President Joe Biden and Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah El-Sisi pledged to stay in \"close coordination\" to seal the deal, per a White House statement.
But hurdles remain: A senior Hamas official told Reuters the group is waiting for Israel to share maps outlining its military withdrawal from Gaza. Meanwhile, an Israeli negotiator cautioned, \"We’re close, but not there yet.\"
The proposed truce would pause fighting in the besieged enclave and secure the release of hostages captured during Hamas’ October 7 attacks. Over 8 hours of talks in Qatar fueled hopes, with Biden declaring, \"This is the moment for diplomacy.\"
Global attention now turns to Doha – could this be the breakthrough Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have waited for?
