Ceasefire Agreement Closer Than Ever; Israeli Delegation Heads to Doha

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced on Saturday evening, January 22, that Benjamin Netanyahu is sending a high-level delegation to Qatar to join efforts for signing a ceasefire agreement and exchanging hostages with the 'terrorist group Hamas.' According to Israeli media, this high-level delegation includes David Barnea, head of Mossad, Ron Bar, head of Shin Bet, Major General Nitzan Alon from the Israeli army, and Ofir Falk, Netanyahu's political advisor. The Times of Israel reported that Steve Wittecuff, Donald Trump's envoy for Middle Eastern affairs, also met with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha on Friday and then with Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Saturday, being briefed on the negotiations. Trump's envoy emphasized that both sides need to show more flexibility to reach a final agreement. Meanwhile, a Palestinian source familiar with the negotiations claimed that the text of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza is ready and will be implemented 24 hours after Benjamin Netanyahu's approval. However, a senior Israeli official told Channel 13 of Israeli television that Hamas has not yet agreed to provide a list of living hostages to Israel. The Israeli television network 'Kan' reported on Tuesday, January 18, that according to the terms of the ceasefire negotiations and the release of hostages in Doha, it is stipulated that immediately after reaching an agreement, the process of releasing all Israeli hostages, whether civilians or soldiers, living or deceased, will begin, and in return, a predetermined number of Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli prisons. According to this network, the terms of the negotiations also state that Hamas will start the release of hostages with women and living individuals, releasing three hostages every seven days, and by a week after the ceasefire begins, Hamas must provide a list of all hostages to Israel. Additionally, the document states that a sustainable ceasefire will lead to a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and the reconstruction of the area, with Israel agreeing to allow humanitarian aid to be sent to the Gaza Strip as soon as the agreement is implemented. Donald Trump emphasized on Tuesday, January 18, that if the remaining approximately 100 hostages taken by Hamas during the attack on Israel on October 7 of last year are not released before his inauguration ceremony on January 21, 'there will be total chaos in the Middle East.' Biden stated that real progress has been made in the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza. Trump is calling for an agreement on the hostage deal by January 21. The deployment of Lebanese army forces in parts of southern Lebanon is also noted. The U.S. has supported Israel's approach in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations. Najib Mikati stated that disarmament in southern Lebanon will begin soon, and there has been a positive global reaction to the election of a new president in Lebanon. The ceasefire negotiations in Gaza are progressing without an agreement while dozens have been killed.