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A potential deal for the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza is nearing completion, with the details having been finalized and awaiting the terror group’s final approval, Hebrew media reported on Monday.
Mediator Qatar has handed Israel and Hamas a “final” draft agreement, an official briefed on the negotiations told Reuters. A breakthrough was reached in Doha after midnight following talks between Israel’s spy chiefs, President-elect Trump’s Middle East envoy and Qatar’s prime minister, the official said.
According to an outline published by Saudi outlet Al Arabiya, under the terms of the phased agreement Israel is to withdraw from specific areas of Gaza over 42 days, increase humanitarian aid and eventually withdraw fully from Gaza. The agreement also includes the release of 50 Palestinian terrorists serving life sentences and the exchange of 50 “female prisoners” for each Israeli female soldier released.
The Hamas terrorist group is holding 98 hostages in Gaza, 94 of whom were kidnapped on Oct. 7, 2023, and four of whom were captured in 2014, according to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office. Thirty-six of the hostages Hamas is holding are deceased, including two from 2014 (Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul).
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden recently discussed the negotiations, with Biden stressing the urgency of a ceasefire and the return of hostages. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan noted that while an agreement was close, some issues remain unresolved. The goal is to finalize the deal by Jan. 20, the date of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
A senior Israeli delegation traveled to Doha on Sunday amid signs of flexibility from Hamas and pressure from the Trump administration to secure an agreement before the inauguration.
Netanyahu dispatched Mossad Director David Barnea; Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) chief Ronen Bar; Maj. Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon, the head of the Missing and Captive Soldiers Section in the Military Intelligence Directorate; and his political adviser Ophir Falk to Doha following a discussion in Jerusalem on Saturday afternoon with Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
