The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that Qatar conveyed a positive message from the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to Israel to make progress in the negotiations, while the current US administration is keen to reach a deal before the end of US President Joe Biden’s term.
According to the broadcasting authority, the message concerns the list of prisoners and other points of disagreement between the two sides.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority also said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an urgent meeting with Defense Minister Israel Katz and the negotiating team following the positive message from Hamas.
The Broadcasting Corporation also quoted unnamed foreign sources as saying that Israel and Hamas had reached a preliminary agreement to conduct negotiations regarding the second phase in conjunction with the implementation of the first phase, and the two parties discussed the possibility of a permanent ceasefire with the aim of creating continuity between all stages of the agreement and achieving the release of all prisoners.
In the same context, White House Communications Advisor John Kirby said that US President Joe Biden spoke with his negotiating team in the ceasefire talks in Gaza.
Kirby added that work is underway seriously to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.
Kirby noted that talks are still ongoing in Doha and that some progress has been achieved, but this does not mean that the mission is complete.
He stressed that Washington wants to reach an agreement before the end of Biden’s term, noting that the failure to reach an agreement so far is due to the obstacles placed by Hamas, saying that the movement’s positions make it difficult to reach an agreement.
Meeting with Trump’s envoy
For its part, the Qatari Foreign Ministry announced that Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani received in Doha Steve Witkoff, envoy of US President-elect Donald Trump.
The ministry added that during the interview, the latest developments in the situation in the region were reviewed, especially the efforts aimed at reaching a ceasefire in Gaza.
Axios said that the Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs discussed with the Trump administration’s National Security Advisor the ongoing negotiations to reach an agreement on Gaza.
In the same context, CIA Director William Burns said that there is still an opportunity to conclude an agreement on Gaza, stressing that he had learned through difficult experience not to raise his expectations.
Burns added that he will work hard until January 20 to conclude an agreement on Gaza, and said that coordination with the next administration is very good, stressing that the opportunity still exists.
He pointed out that the matter is not just details in the negotiation texts, but rather concerns the hostages held in conditions he described as hellish, and civilians in Gaza who he said suffer from similar conditions, especially in the winter.
Burns said that there is every reason for political leaders to realize that enough is happening, that the ideal solution is rarely available in the Middle East, and that the time has come to reach an agreement.
The CIA director expressed his belief that the negotiations currently underway are very serious, and provide at least the possibility of completing the agreement in the next few weeks.
