US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held discussions on Sunday about efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and negotiate a deal for hostages.
The talks occurred as high-ranking officials, including Israel's Mossad chief David Barnea and Biden's top Middle East adviser Brett McGurk, were in Doha, Qatar, working on the details.
President Biden, who will leave office on 20 January, was briefed by Netanyahu on the latest progress in the ongoing negotiations.
The discussions have been mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, though attempts over the past year have often stalled when appearing close to an agreement.
Biden’s National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, stated that McGurk is finalising the text of a proposal to present to both sides.
However, there is no clear indication that an agreement can be reached before Biden’s term ends and the incoming administration of Donald Trump takes over.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed optimism earlier in the week, suggesting a deal was "very close" and could potentially be completed soon.
Hamas has demanded a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, a region devastated by weeks of conflict. Prime Minister Netanyahu, however, remains determined to weaken Hamas militarily.
The current discussions revolve around a phased ceasefire, beginning with the partial release of hostages in exchange for a temporary halt in fighting. Netanyahu has signalled commitment only to this initial phase.
Key points of contention include the specific hostages to be freed in the initial phase, the Palestinian prisoners to be released, and the scale of any Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza’s population centres.
The conflict, which began after Hamas launched a deadly attack on 7 October 2023, has claimed the lives of over 46,000 Palestinians, with women and children making up the majority of the casualties, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Israel’s military campaign was triggered by the Hamas attack, which killed approximately 1,200 people and saw around 250 others abducted.
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