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Peace deal between Israel and Hamas after more than a year of all-out war is “on the brink … of final realization,” the American president Joe Biden he said.
In a rare State Department speech, the outgoing US president said: “We are on the verge of a proposal that I detailed several months ago that is finally coming to fruition.”
United States, Qatar and Egypt have been working for more than a year to negotiate an end to the war in Gaza, so far without success. But on Monday, mediators presented the final draft of the peace deal to Israel and Hamas after a midnight breakthrough in talks
Officials said Qatar handed both sides a ceasefire and hostage release text during talks in the capital, Doha. Both Israel and Hamas later said the draft had made significant “progress.”
Steve Witkoff, incoming US Middle East envoy for Donald Trumphe reportedly attended the talks, as did an emissary from the outgoing Biden administration Brett McGurk.
Speaking about a possible peace deal in his speech, Mr. Biden said he had “learned from many years of public service to never, never, never, never give up.”
Biden: Israel and Hamas peace agreement on the verge of being realized
President Joe Biden said a deal to secure the release of the hostages and achieve a ceasefire in Gaza is on the verge of happening, adding that his administration is working urgently to close the deal.
In a rare State Department speech, the outgoing US president said: “We are on the verge of a proposal that I detailed several months ago that is finally coming to fruition.”
Tom Watling13 January 2025 20:43
Israel and Hamas on the brink of peace as officials unveil draft truce
Tom Watling13 January 2025 20:33
In pictures: Israel and Hamas’ war in Gaza
Tom Watling13 January 2025 19:34
Gaza ceasefire talks to be held in Doha on Tuesday with deal ‘closer than it’s ever been’, official says
A round of talks on the Gaza ceasefire will be held in Doha on Tuesday morning to finalize the remaining details of the deal, an official familiar with the talks told Reuters on Monday.
A deal to end the war in Gaza is “closer than it’s ever been,” the official said, adding that US President-elect Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Biden administration envoy Brett McGurk and Israel’s Mossad chief David Barnea and Shin Bet chief is to attend Ronen Bar.
Tom Watling13 January 2025 18:37
Gaza ceasefire talks at advanced stage for release of 33 hostages, Israeli official says
Negotiations are at an advanced stage for the release of up to 33 hostages as part of a Gaza ceasefire deal, an Israeli official said on Monday.
“We’re not sure if it’s hours or days or more,” the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said of the time frame for a potential deal.
Tom Watling13 January 2025 18:36
Turkish intelligence chief, Hamas officials discuss ceasefire efforts in Gaza, Turkish source says
Turkey’s intelligence chief discussed efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza in a telephone conversation Monday with officials from the political wing of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, a Turkish security source said.
The source said MIT head Ibrahim Kalin and Hamas officials agreed to continue efforts to reach a truce. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed the effort in talks with a Hamas official on Saturday, a Turkish diplomatic source said over the weekend.
Tom Watling13 January 2025 18:05
Biden talks to Qatari leader
US President Joe Biden spoke with the leader of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to discuss a possible peace deal between Israel and Hamas.
“The two leaders discussed negotiations in Doha for a cease-fire agreement and the release of hostages based on the May 27, 2024 deal described by the president last year and unanimously endorsed by the UN Security Council,” it read.
“Both leaders stressed the urgent need to implement the agreement to return the hostages to their families and bring emergency aid to the citizens of Gaza through the humanitarian aid rush that enabled the ceasefire and called for an agreement.
“Both leaders agreed to remain in close coordination directly and through their teams at this critical point in the negotiations.”
Tom Watling13 January 2025 18:04
Negotiations on the war in Gaza are based on an agreement, the White House says
Ceasefire negotiators in the Gaza war are on the verge of reaching an agreement, and the White House is in contact with President-elect Donald Trump’s team about the talks, a top aide to President Joe Biden said.
Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said the US president would soon speak with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi about the talks.
Sullivan said it remains to be seen whether a deal will actually be reached.
Tom Watling13 January 2025 18:01