Qatar presents final cease-fire, hostage release deal to Israel, Hamas
Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani speaks during a press conference alongside U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Doha, Qatar, on Oct. 13, 2023. (AFP Photo)
Qatar has presented Israel and Hamas with a “final” draft of a cease-fire and hostage release agreement aimed at ending the war in Gaza, according to Reuters.
The draft was shared after a breakthrough in talks between Israel’s spy chiefs, President-elect Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, and Qatar’s prime minister, according to an official briefed on the negotiations.
Why it matters
U.S. officials are racing against time to finalize a deal on Gaza hostages and a cease-fire before President Joe Biden leaves office on Jan. 20.
The agreement is crucial to halt the ongoing conflict, address the humanitarian crisis and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Details
- Biden and Netanyahu’s call: U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the ongoing efforts to halt the fighting in Gaza and free the hostages.
- Cease-fire urgency: Biden stressed the immediate need for a cease-fire and the return of hostages, alongside a surge in humanitarian aid, which would be facilitated by the cessation of hostilities.
Israel kills more than 46,000 people in Gaza since Oct. 7
Since October 2023, more than 46,000 people have been killed by Israel in Gaza. Much of the Palestinian territory has been devastated, and occupied by Israel, the humanitarian crisis has escalated, with most of the population displaced.
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