US and Arab mediators have made significant progress towards brokering a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and the release of scores of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, but a deal has not been reached yet, officials said.
Four officials acknowledged progress has been made and said the coming days would be critical for ending more than 15 months of fighting that has destabilised the Middle East.
They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the talks.
A US official briefed on the negotiations said all sides are “closer than we’ve ever been, but it could still fall apart.” The official declined to predict the timing of a potential agreement because he said it is too uncertain, with multiple moving parts still in play.
Two other officials, including one associated with Hamas, said there were still a number of hurdles.
On several occasions over the past year, US leaders have said they were on the verge of reaching a deal, only to have talks stall.
Another person familiar with the talks said there had been a breakthrough overnight and there was a proposed deal on the table. Israeli and Hamas negotiators will take it to their leaders for final approval, the person said.
The person said mediators from Qatar had put renewed pressure on Hamas to accept the agreement, while US President-elect Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff was pressing the Israelis. Mr Witkoff recently joined the negotiations and has been in the region in recent days.
Mediators have handed the draft deal to each side.
An Egyptian official said there had been good progress, but it would likely take a few more days and the sides were aiming for a deal before Mr Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
A Hamas official who spoke anonymously because he was not authorised to brief the media said a number of contentious issues still need to be resolved, including an Israeli commitment to ending the war and details about the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
The Qatari palace said the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, met with the Hamas delegation in Doha as well as with Mr Witkoff and Brett McGurk, President Joe Biden’s top Middle East adviser, as well as speaking on the phone with Mr Biden, who stressed the urgent need for a deal.
