SAEDNEWS: The Israeli Foreign Minister confirmed that progress has been made in the detainee agreement and stated: "Israel wants an agreement, and soon we will see if the other side wants the same." These remarks came after an Israeli official denied a Reuters report, claiming that Israel had not received a proposed ceasefire draft from Qatar.
According to Saed News, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported that a source familiar with the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza and the prisoner exchange told Reuters today (Monday) that Qatar, acting as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, has delivered the "final" draft of the ceasefire agreement to both parties.
According to Entekhab, the source stated that significant progress was made in the Doha negotiations after midnight, following discussions between Israeli intelligence officials, Steve Witkoff (the envoy of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to the Middle East), and Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar.
The Israeli Foreign Minister confirmed that progress has been made in the detainee agreement and reiterated: "Israel wants an agreement, and soon we will see if the other side wants the same." This statement followed an Israeli official's denial of a Reuters report claiming that Israel had not received a ceasefire draft from Qatar.
Meanwhile, the Hebrew news website Yedioth Ahronoth reported today, citing unnamed senior Israeli officials, that the framework of the agreement is "almost finalized." These officials stated, "It could be concluded within hours or days. Israel has taken significant steps in this regard." They also emphasized that Israel's flexibility is evident and that the final decision now rests with Hamas.
J.D. Vance, the U.S. Vice President-elect, announced yesterday that the ceasefire agreement and prisoner release could be finalized before Trump's return to the White House next week. The progress in negotiations accelerated after Steve Witkoff's arrival in Doha on Friday, followed by his visit to Tel Aviv on Saturday.
According to released information, the ceasefire proposal includes three stages:
First stage: Partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Salah al-Din (Philadelphi) corridor.
Second stage: Continued presence of Israeli monitoring forces.
Third stage: Complete withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Reports from Israeli media indicate cautious optimism about the agreement. Channel 12 in Hebrew reported that the details of the agreement have been finalized, with only Hamas’s final response pending. The channel also confirmed that the negotiations are progressing in a positive atmosphere and that mediators hope the agreement will be announced in the coming days.
Despite these advancements, negotiations continue under media silence. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office, following a conversation between Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden, announced that progress has been made in negotiations for the release of detainees and that Netanyahu has authorized the Israeli delegation in Doha.
In summary, the potential ceasefire agreement and prisoner exchange, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, are nearing finalization, and the world awaits Hamas's final decision.
