After more than eight hours of intensive negotiations in Doha, a Gaza ceasefire appears imminent. U.S. and Egyptian leaders have pledged to maintain close communication in the coming hours to finalize the details of the agreement.
Officials from Qatar, Egypt, the U.S., Israel, and Hamas have expressed optimism, stating that a truce in the besieged region and the release of hostages are closer than ever. Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed Al-Ansari, confirmed that both sides have been presented with a text and that discussions on the final details are underway.
Despite the progress, a senior Hamas official informed Reuters that the group has yet to deliver its response, awaiting Israel's submission of maps outlining the withdrawal of its forces from Gaza.
U.S. President Joe Biden, alongside an envoy from President-elect Donald Trump, has stated that a deal is within reach. In discussions on Tuesday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, both leaders emphasized the urgent need for the agreement's implementation and committed to staying closely coordinated through their teams.
Hamas has expressed hope that the ongoing negotiations will culminate in a successful deal, while an Israeli official noted that while talks are in a critical phase, some details still need to be resolved, stating, \"We are close, we are not there yet.\"
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Gaza ceasefire appears close as U.S., Egypt focus on 'coming hours'
cgtn.com