Israel-Hamas war - latest: Progress made in talks over Gaza ceasefire deal ahead of ‘pivotal 24 hours’
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A peace deal would put an end to more than a year of fighting, during which tens of thousands of people have been killed. Mediators have presented the final draft of a peace deal to Israel and Hamas after a midnight breakthrough in talks - sparking hope that more than a year of war could finally come to an end.
Officials said Qatar had handed both sides a text for a ceasefire and the release of hostages during talks in the capital, Doha. Both Israel and Hamas later said the draft had made significant “progress”. Steve Witkoff, the incoming US envoy to the Middle East for Donald Trump, reportedly attended the talks, as did the outgoing Biden administration’s envoy Brett McGurk.
“The next 24 hours will be pivotal to reaching the deal,” one official said, characterising the draft as the outcome of a breakthrough reached in the early hours of Monday. “The negotiation over some core issues made progress and we are working to conclude what remains soon,” a Hamas official told Reuters on Monday, asking not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.
