Gaza mediators send final draft of ceasefire deal to Israel and Hamas

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US-led mediators have sent a final draft of a ceasefire proposal to Israel and Hamas after reporting a “breakthrough” in talks to end the war and release hostages in Gaza.

People familiar with the matter said it left the warring parties the closest they have come to ending the 15-month conflict since at least July, when an earlier collapse broke out.

“The final deal is now with all parties for approval,” said a diplomat briefed on the talks.

“At midnight, a breakthrough was registered in Doha. . The mediators have placed the responsibility of reaching an agreement on the two sides,” the diplomat added. “The next 24 hours will be key to reaching a deal.”

The breakthrough came after a flurry of diplomacy involving President-elect Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Wittkoff, Israeli intelligence chief David Barnea and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani.

The United States, Qatar and Egypt have been struggling for months to broker a deal to end the conflict in Gaza and free about 100 hostages held in the besieged enclave.

But the talks have gained momentum since the election of Trump, who has repeatedly demanded that all hostages be released before his inauguration on January 20. He has warned that otherwise “all hell will pay.”

Previous periods of optimism that negotiators were closing in on a deal have been dashed by the warring parties’ refusal to make the concessions needed to reach an agreement on the line.

The White House reported that President Joe Biden spoke with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, on Monday.

“Both leaders have agreed to remain in close coordination directly and through their teams on this important point in the negotiations.”