Gaza ceasefire negotiations are at a critical juncture, with an Israel-Hamas agreement reportedly close to completion

Negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip are reportedly at a critical juncture, with a potential agreement nearing completion.

An Israeli delegation, led by Mossad chief David Barnea arrived in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on Sunday.

A leadership source within Hamas informed The Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, on Saturday that nearly all aspects of the “final concept” for a ceasefire in Gaza have been finalized.

The source indicated that mediators are preparing to announce the successful conclusion of a ceasefire agreement, following the arrival of the Israeli delegation sent by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Negotiations have faced significant delays and have often been disrupted by Netanyahu and his right-wing allies, who have sought to prolong the ongoing conflict in Gaza whenever a resolution seemed imminent.

However, Palestinian sources suggest that the current situation is different, and a ceasefire agreement is on the verge of being finalized.

Another Palestinian source revealed that technical teams from the mediating parties—the US, Qatar, and Egypt—along with representatives from both sides, have completed the preparations for the agreement.

They noted that the implementation of the agreement would occur 24 hours after Netanyahu, who is facing charges from the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, consents to it.

Expectations for a genuine agreement have been heightened following a visit by Steve Witkoff, an envoy from US President-Elect Donald Trump, to Doha on Friday.

This visit aimed to facilitate the ceasefire discussions, during which Witkoff met with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and subsequently met with Netanyahu in Israel on Saturday.

A further indication that a ceasefire agreement may be attainable at this juncture is the scheduled meeting between Gal Hirsch, the Israeli official overseeing negotiations for captives held by Hamas, and Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Reports suggest that Hamas plans to release 33 Israeli captives in the early phases of the agreement, in return for Palestinian prisoners.

Additionally, there are signs that Trump is eager to finalize a ceasefire deal prior to his inauguration as US president on January 20.

Trump, who led what is arguably the most pro-Israel administration in U.S. history from 2017 to 2021, previously stated on his Truth Social platform that there would be severe consequences if Hamas does not release Israeli captives by January 20.

Israel may consider withdrawing from the Philadelphi Corridor

While the specifics of the proposed deal remain largely undisclosed, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed has reported that the latest ceasefire proposal includes an Israeli withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor, which separates the Gaza Strip from Egypt, during the final phase of the agreement.

Netanyahu has consistently advocated for a permanent Israeli presence in both the Philadelphi Corridor and at the Netzarim Junction in central Gaza, a stance that has previously contributed to the collapse of negotiations and the extension of the Gaza conflict.

In the initial phases of the agreement, there will be a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, although Israeli observation posts in the heavily damaged area will remain, according to sources cited by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

A complete Israeli withdrawal is anticipated at the conclusion of the agreement.

Despite advancements in ceasefire discussions, Israel has continued its military operations against civilians in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals in an airstrike on a school sheltering displaced persons in Jabalia, located in northern Gaza.

The ongoing attacks have led to at least 46,565 fatalities, predominantly among women and children, with over 109,000 individuals injured. The region has suffered extensive devastation, forcing most of the population to evacuate their homes multiple times, and the actual death toll is believed to be significantly higher than the official counts.