Getty ImagesNegotiators from Israel and Hamas are making a final attempt to reach a ceasefire in Gaza in Doha, with all sides indicating that an agreement has almost been reached.
There were reports of a breakthrough on Wednesday, with unnamed Israeli officials quoted as saying that Hamas had agreed to the latest draft presented by Qatari, American and Egyptian mediators.
But the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly denied these reports. There was no immediate comment from the Palestinian armed group.
On Tuesday night, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the two sides were “on the brink” of reaching an agreement and were awaiting “the final word from Hamas.”
A senior Hamas official later told Reuters news agency that the movement had not submitted its official response to the draft because Israel had not yet provided maps showing how its forces would withdraw from the Gaza areas.
But the Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted an Israeli source who denied Hamas's claims about the maps.
The proposed three-phase agreement would begin with an initial six-week ceasefire.
A Palestinian official told the BBC that Hamas would release three hostages on the first day of the agreement, after which Israel would begin withdrawing its forces from populated areas.
He added that more hostages would then be released in stages over the following weeks, with Israel allowing the displaced residents to return to the northern regions.
Israel said that it expects to release 33 hostages in the first phase, and that it will release a yet-to-be-determined number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
Negotiations on the second phase – which is supposed to see the release of the remaining hostages, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the achievement of “sustainable calm” – are scheduled to begin in two weeks.
A Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday that there were no major issues impeding reaching an agreement and that he hoped the talks would lead “very soon to an agreement.”
However, he also warned that “the smallest details” could undermine the process.
The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the group's unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
More than 46,700 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in the Strip. Most of the population of 2.3 million people have been displaced, there is widespread destruction, and there are severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter due to the struggle to get aid to those in need.
Israel says 94 hostages are still being held by Hamas, and 34 of them are presumed dead. In addition, there were four Israelis who were kidnapped before the war, two of whom died.
Relatives of the remaining hostages urged the Israeli government to do whatever it takes to reach an agreement on crossing the line and returning them all to their homeland.
“We cannot miss this moment,” said Hadas Calderon, wife of Ofer Calderon, 54. “This is the last moment; we can save them.”
Palestinians also dared to hope that the end of the devastating 15-month war was near.
Amal Saleh (54 years old) told Reuters news agency, “We are waiting for a ceasefire and a truce. May God complete it well for us, grant us peace, and enable us to return to our homes.”
“Even if schools are bombed and destroyed, we just want to know that we are finally living in peace.”
ReutersThe intensity of the war did not subside as negotiations continued.
The Israeli army said on Wednesday morning that it had carried out raids on more than 50 targets across the Strip during the past day.
The Gaza Ministry of Health said that at least 62 people were killed during the same period.
A night raid on a house in the center of Deir al-Balah city killed 11 people, including four children, according to what the Civil Defense told AFP.
Kifaya Shaqura, while digging through the rubble of the destroyed building, said that among the dead were her uncle and aunt, and their children and grandchildren.
He added, “People are waiting for them to announce a truce. But unfortunately, we woke up to… the news of their martyrdom. What do we say?”
Seven more people were reported killed in a raid on a school used as a shelter for families displaced to the north in Gaza City.
The Israeli army said that it targeted “a terrorist who served in a central position” who was in a school in the city, and that it also carried out raids on Hamas activists in Deir al-Balah and the southern city of Khan Yunis.
He added that steps had been taken to mitigate harm to civilians and accused Hamas of exploiting civilian structures for military purposes.
