New progress has been made in recent days in negotiations to end the war in Gaza, according to a source close to President-elect Donald Trump’s team. However, a major obstacle emerged: Hamas informed mediators that it was unable to determine the exact number of hostages in its possession, thereby delaying the release of details of a possible deal.
The proposed ceasefire plan would include three phases, with the first stage lasting 40 to 60 days. According to the Jerusalem Post, one of the difficulties lies in the timing of this first phase, which would coincide with Donald Trump taking office. Hamas fears that the new American president will authorize Benjamin Netanyahu to resume military operations in Gaza immediately after this initial phase.
Trump’s team is actively involved in the negotiations. His Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, recently made several visits to Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Qatar to coordinate efforts with “friendly countries.” .
The United States perceives a “real desire” on both sides to end the conflict, “more than ever”. Nevertheless, the US State Department remains cautiously optimistic, with Matthew Miller stressing that “realism greatly dampens” this optimism.
Israeli sources cited by Yedioth Ahronoth indicate that the current dispute is primarily over the number of living hostages that Hamas would release as part of the deal. Hamas is seeking guarantees that Israel will not resume its military operations after the first phase, a proposal that Israel rejects according to Jerusalem Post sources.
