Israel, Hamas ceasefire close, but not 100 percent: Israeli official

Efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and release hostages are close but not yet finalized, an Israeli official told The Hill on Monday, after Reuters reported Qatar has handed a final deal to both sides.

International mediators have intensified efforts to secure a deal ahead of President-elect Trump taking office on Jan. 20. 

Trump has warned that “all hell” will break loose in the Middle East if hostages Hamas kidnapped from southern Israel during its Oct. 7 attack are not released before he is sworn in, adding pressure as President Biden seeks to secure a major foreign policy win in his few days left in office. 

But Hamas officials have reportedly talked of sticking points over where the Israeli army will withdraw from; the size of a buffer zone between Israel and the Gaza Strip; and whether the ceasefire will be permanent. 

“I think we are talking about very crucial hours, we are in the nearest point to reach a ceasefire agreement,” Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, told The Hill. 

“If nothing extraordinary is happening, I’m sure we’re heading towards agreement soon.” 

Biden stressed the immediate need for a ceasefire in Gaza in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, following indirect negotiations between U.S., Israeli, Qatari, Egyptian and Hamas officials that have taken place in Doha, Qatar. Trump’s envoy for Middle East peace, Steve Witkoff, has also coordinated with the Biden team on the negotiations. 

Naim said that the ceasefire deal is largely based on a July proposal with some changes he did not specify.

“I hope it will lead to a final and permanent ceasefire and total withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, a serious prisoner exchange and opening the borders to relieve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip to help the Gazans to rebuild their city again,” he said.

The July proposal called for a two-phase deal, with the first phase to include a weeks-long ceasefire, release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and a scale-up of humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip. During the first phase, negotiators are expected to talk about a transition to a second phase of the deal, for a permanent ceasefire and ongoing terms for governance of the strip.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Monday a deal can get done this week. 

“I’m not making a promise or a prediction, but it is there for the taking, and we are going to work to make it happen.”

Brett McGurk, special coordinator for the Middle East and Biden’s head of negotiations, is keeping Witkoff “fully informed of what we’re doing,” White House national security communications adviser John Kirby told reporters last week. 

“I can assure you that the President has directed his national security team to make sure that there are no surprises as we work through this negotiation process,” Kirby said. 

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the U.S. has reintensified negotiations to get to a ceasefire before the Biden administration leaves office. The goal is to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, alive and dead, including seven Americans; and surge humanitarian support to Palestinians alongside the pause in fighting. A number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are also expected to be released as part of any deal. 

Israeli opposition leaders have offered assurances to Netanyahu for a political safety net, to encourage the prime minister to accept a ceasefire and hostage release deal in the face of opposition from far-right, extreme members of his coalition that are opposing the deal. 

“I want to remind Netanyahu again, he doesn’t need them,” said Yair Lapid, leader of the opposition and head of the Yesh Atid party, referring to Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Times of Israel reported. 

“I offered him a political safety net for a hostage deal. This offer is valid now, more than ever. If Netanyahu wants to and can make a deal, he and I know how to close the details of the safety net in half an hour,” Lapid said.

Smotrich has called the emerging ceasefire deal a “catastrophe.” 

Updated: 12:45 p.m.