
This picture taken from the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip shows smoke plumes rising from explosions above destroyed buildings in the northern Gaza Strip. AFP
Al Jazeera reported that the Emir of Qatar met with a Hamas delegation led by Khalil Al-Hayya to discuss progress in negotiations to achieve a long-term truce in Gaza.
Anonymously speaking, a senior Palestinian official close to Hamas told AFP that "significant progress" had been made in the talks. "The current round of negotiations is the most serious and deep and has made significant progress," he said.
According to Al Arabiya, Hamas responded to the final draft of the ceasefire agreement on Monday without proposing any changes or amendments.
Sources close to the negotiations said Qatar's draft outlines a phased approach to ending the 15-month-old conflict in Gaza.
Proposed deal wrap-up
Phase one spans a temporary cessation of hostilities, Israeli withdrawal to positions near the Gaza border, the return of displaced Palestinians, and the initiation of a prisoner-captive exchange. Humanitarian aid would flow without obstruction, with reconstruction efforts overseen by international bodies and compensation for war-affected individuals.
Phase two includes establishing a permanent ceasefire and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Phase three includes the exchange of remains of deceased captives, implementing long-term reconstruction plans, reopening of border crossings for trade and movement, and oversight by guarantors, including the US, Qatar, and Egypt.
According to negotiators, previous attempts to finalize a ceasefire, including efforts in May and July 2024, faltered due to Israeli objections.
The Jerusalem Post reported that the first phase of the ceasefire is expected to last 42 days, with negotiations for subsequent phases commencing 16 days after the truce begins. Israeli forces would gradually withdraw, maintaining an unspecified security perimeter during the initial phase, the newspaper said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to consult with senior security officials in the coming hours, Israeli Channel 12 reported.
The Qatari Emiri Court confirmed that the Emir of Qatar had met with the US President-elect's envoy and the Middle East Coordinator at the National Security Council to discuss the agreement.
Discussions continue regarding the scale of humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza, which remains a critical component of the proposed deal.
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