Hamas hopes Gaza truce talks will lead to 'clear and comprehensive agreement'

A final round of negotiations is being held on Tuesday, January 14, in Qatar with a view to a truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, after fifteen months of a war which has left tens of thousands dead. The Palestinian Islamist movement hopes that the indirect negotiations with Israel underway in Doha will lead to “a clear and comprehensive agreement”. In a statement, Hamas claims to have informed the Palestinian factions of the progress of the current discussions, which are in “the final phase”. Follow our live stream.

The “main” obstacles to a ceasefire have been “resolved”, according to Qatar. The country mediating between the Jewish state and the Palestinian Islamist movement reported that major questions “were resolved during the talks over the past two weeks”according to the spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign Ministry. Discussions for a truce agreement are at “stade final”.

A ceasefire “on the verge of being concluded” according to Joe Biden. The American president considered that an agreement, based on a three-stage ceasefire plan that he himself presented at the end of May, was imminent. Despite intense diplomatic efforts, no truce has yet been concluded since that which took place at the end of November 2023.

The outlines of an agreement are becoming clearer. Two sources close to the negotiations told AFP that the first phase of the draft agreement provided for the release of 33 hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Times of Israel obtained the same information: the daily cited Israeli officials.

Israel continues its strikes in Gaza. The Palestinian enclave's Civil Defense reported the deaths of at least 18 people, including several children, in Israeli airstrikes and nighttime bombardments. On Monday, the Israeli army bombarded Gaza City throughout the day, killing more than 50 people according to emergency services. The Israeli army said it was investigating the information.