Israel, Hamas Near Ceasefire Deal Amid Hostage-Prisoner Swap Talks

JERUSALEM, Israel — Israel and Hamas are nearing a potential ceasefire agreement, with negotiations focusing on a hostage-prisoner swap and the conditions for ending the ongoing conflict in Gaza, officials from both sides confirmed Monday.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced that Israel is “working hard to reach a deal” during talks hosted in Doha, Qatar, and expressed optimism about progress. “Israel wants a hostage deal. Israel is working with our American friends in order to achieve a hostage deal, and soon we will know whether the other side wants the same thing,” Saar said during a news conference in Jerusalem.

However, significant hurdles remain. A Hamas official, speaking to CNN on condition of anonymity, outlined key sticking points, including Israel’s withdrawal from the Philadelphi corridor, a narrow strip along the Egypt-Gaza border, and the establishment of a permanent ceasefire rather than a temporary pause. Hamas also opposes Israel’s proposed 2,000-meter buffer zone inside Gaza, insisting on a return to the pre-October 7, 2023, buffer size of 300-500 meters.

Qadura Fares, head of the Palestinian Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainees, told CNN he is traveling to Doha to advise on the list of Palestinian prisoners to be released if a deal is finalized. Meanwhile, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich criticized the potential agreement, calling it a “catastrophe” for Israel’s national security and a “surrender deal” that would release “terrorists.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure from both the current and incoming U.S. administrations to reach a deal. A source familiar with the negotiations told CNN that Netanyahu is motivated by a desire to maintain close ties with President-elect Donald Trump, who is set to take office on January 20. “There’s a bigger picture here that he (Netanyahu) wants to achieve. And you know, remaining on track with Trump is important,” the source said.

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan acknowledged the challenges in finalizing a deal by January 20 but expressed cautious optimism. “We are very, very close, and yet being very close still means we’re far, because until you actually get across the finish line, we’re not there,” Sullivan said in an interview with CNN.

The conflict, which began after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, has resulted in significant casualties. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, 46,584 people have been killed and 109,731 injured in Gaza as of Monday. Many victims remain trapped under rubble, with rescue efforts hampered by ongoing hostilities.

In Gaza, residents expressed skepticism about the negotiations. “Every time they say there are negotiations, we hear nothing but their failure,” said Abdul Rahman Salama, a Khan Younis resident whose home was destroyed. Ahmad Salama, another displaced resident, voiced hope for an end to the war but feared the talks would yield no results.

The Biden administration, along with Egypt and Qatar, has been mediating the negotiations for over a year. While Hamas demands a full withdrawal of Israeli forces and a permanent ceasefire, Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until achieving “total victory” over the militant group.