Qatar has presented a “final” draft of a ceasefire and hostage release agreement aimed at ending the ongoing war in Gaza, according to an official briefed on the negotiations. The breakthrough came after talks between Israel’s intelligence chiefs, President-elect Trump’s Middle East envoy, and Qatar’s prime minister, which concluded after midnight in Doha.
U.S. President Joe Biden also held discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, focusing on efforts to reach a ceasefire and secure the release of remaining hostages. The White House confirmed that Biden stressed the urgency of a ceasefire and the return of hostages, alongside a surge in humanitarian aid that would follow the cessation of hostilities.
The conflict escalated in October 2023 after Hamas fighters crossed into Israel, killing over 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. In response, Israel launched a major military operation in Gaza, which has led to the deaths of more than 46,000 people, according to Palestinian health officials. The region is currently facing a severe humanitarian crisis, with large parts of Gaza destroyed and most of its population displaced. U.S. officials are working to finalize a deal before President Biden leaves office on January 20.
