On Monday, there was good news in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Both sides were given a final draft of a truce deal after a breakthrough in talks held in Doha, Qatar. Reports say that Hamas might release 33 hostages during the first part of this potential ceasefire agreement.
The meeting involved high-ranking officials, including leaders from Israel’s intelligence agencies and the prime minister of Qatar. An Israeli official mentioned that most of the hostages are believed to still be alive. They also expect that the bodies of those who have died will be returned during the first 42 days of the ceasefire. Israel said they are ready to start the truce as soon as it is signed.
In a recent speech, outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden said the U.S. is doing everything possible to finalize this agreement. He emphasized that the deal could help release the hostages, stop the fighting, ensure Israel’s security, and provide much-needed help to Palestinians affected by the war.
President-elect Donald Trump also commented that they are close to finalizing the deal, hoping it might be signed by the end of this week. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan noted that pressure is building on Hamas to agree to the terms.
Additionally, a diplomat involved in the talks mentioned that there would be one last discussion on Tuesday to finalize any remaining issues. Meanwhile, a Palestinian leader is traveling to Doha to discuss which detainees should be released if the deal is completed.
The proposed truce could allow residents in northern Gaza to return home, while Israeli forces will continue to patrol certain areas for security reasons. Some prisoners connected to the violence will not be released into the West Bank, but rather sent to Gaza or overseas based on further agreements.
The fighting began after Hamas launched surprise attacks on Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking 250 hostage. Since the conflict started, the Palestinian health ministry reports that about 46,565 Palestinians have died due to Israeli military actions. The U.S., Qatar, and Egypt have been negotiating for over a year to bring peace to the region.
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