Destroyed buildings by Israeli bombardments are seen inside the Gaza Strip from southern Israel, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP/Tsafrir Abayov)

- Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages, two officials say.
- “I believe we will get a ceasefire,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says during a speech Tuesday.
- Hamas says in a statement that negotiations have reached their “final stage."
Share
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
CAIRO — Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages, two officials involved in the talks said Tuesday.
Mediators for the United States and Qatar said Israel and the Palestinian militant group were at the closest point yet to sealing a deal to bring them a step closer to ending 15 months of war.
The Associated Press obtained a copy of the proposed agreement, and an Egyptian official and a Hamas official confirmed its authenticity. An Israeli official said progress has been made, but the details are being finalized. All three officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the talks.
Related Story: As Crazy as It Sounds, Trump’s Approach to Foreign Policy Could Work
‘I Believe We Will Get a Ceasefire,’ Blinken Says
“I believe we will get a ceasefire,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a speech Tuesday, asserting it was up to Hamas. “It’s right on the brink. It’s closer than it’s ever been before,” and word could come within hours, or days.
The United States, Egypt and Qatar have spent the past year trying to mediate an end to the war and secure the release of dozens of hostages captured in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered it. Nearly 100 people are still captive inside Gaza, and the military believes at least a third are dead.
Any deal is expected to pause the fighting and bring hopes for winding down the most deadly and destructive war Israel and Hamas have ever fought, a conflict that has destabilized the Middle East and sparked worldwide protests.
It would bring relief to the hard-hit Gaza Strip, where Israel’s offensive has reduced large areas to rubble and displaced around 90% of the population of 2.3 million, many at risk of famine.
Plan Needs Israel’s Approval
If a deal is reached, it would not go into effect immediately. The plan would need approval from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Security Cabinet and then his full Cabinet. Netanyahu allies dominate both and are likely to approve any proposal he presents.
Officials have have expressed optimism before, only for negotiations to stall while the warring sides blamed each other. But they now suggest they can agree ahead of the Jan. 20 inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, whose Mideast envoy has joined the negotiations.
Hamas said in a statement that negotiations had reached their “final stage.”

RELATED TOPICS:
Judge Blocks Trump From Placing Thousands of USAID Workers on Leave
5 hours ago
Federal Judge Blocks Musk’s DOGE From Accessing Sensitive Treasury Department Data
6 hours ago
Rookies for Eagles and Chiefs Could Play a Key Role in the Super Bowl
6 hours ago
Sony PlayStation Network Outage Enrages Gamers Around the World
6 hours ago
Trump Says He’s Firing Kennedy Center Board Members, Naming Himself Chairman
6 hours ago
PJ Pickles, the Pajama-Clad Pup, Want to Join Your Loving Home
6 hours ago
Hanford Shooting Leaves One Dead, Another in Critical Condition
21 hours ago
Here’s What We Know About a Commuter Plane Crash in Alaska That Killed 10 People
3 hours ago
Categories

Here’s What We Know About a Commuter Plane Crash in Alaska That Killed 10 People

Trump’s 3rd Week: More Executive Orders, a Trade War That Wasn’t, and a Mideast Jolt

UMass Will Pay Student Who Made Half-Court Shot $10,000 Even Though His Foot Was on Line

Judge Blocks Trump From Placing Thousands of USAID Workers on Leave

Federal Judge Blocks Musk’s DOGE From Accessing Sensitive Treasury Department Data

Rookies for Eagles and Chiefs Could Play a Key Role in the Super Bowl

Sony PlayStation Network Outage Enrages Gamers Around the World
