Israel, Hamas agree on tentative outline of Gaza ceasefire deal, officials say: Live updates

On By Littum

Negotiators from Israel and Hamas have agreed to a cease-fire in Gaza, although the start date is unclear, according to a senior official from one of the brokering countries and two senior Israeli officials.

The agreement must be formally ratified by the Israeli cabinet, the officials said, and there are also technical details still to be worked out. Two other officials said there were last-minute arguments over the border between Egypt and Gaza, which Israeli forces currently control.

Two White House officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that a cease-fire agreement has been reached. Basem Naim, a Hamas official, also confirmed the deal, although the Palestinian militant group has yet to release a formal statement.

President-elect Donald J. Trump also announced that a hostage deal had been reached, writing on social media that “THEY WILL BE RELEASED SOON.” Mr. Trump had threatened dire consequences unless Israel and Hamas reached a deal before his inauguration on January 20, which some officials credited with helping push the talks along.

If implemented, the ceasefire would allow for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel after more than a year of devastating war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and destroyed much of the enclave.

Neither Israel nor Hamas had publicly endorsed the deal, but the Palestinian group said on Tuesday that negotiations had entered their “final stages” and Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, said on Wednesday evening that he was returning early from a trip abroad to participate in cabinet discussions about the hostages. Hamas said in a statement on Wednesday night that it had responded to the proposed deal without elaborating further.

To implement the deal, Hamas’ negotiating team at the talks in Doha, Qatar, must seek the consent of the group’s commanders in Gaza, including Muhammad Sinwar, whose brother Yahya led the group before he was killed by Israel in October.

Officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy.

Here’s what else you need to know:

  • Negotiations: The latest round of talks is being held in Qatar, a key mediator along with Egypt and the United States. Majed al-Ansari, the spokesman for Qatar’s foreign ministry, said on Tuesday that the two sides had overcome major differences

  • Right-wing opposition: In Israel, some hardline members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government have also expressed opposition to the deal. But on Wednesday, Gideon Saar, the Israeli foreign minister, said said he believed that a majority would sign off on an agreement if it came to a cabinet vote.

  • Hostage Speaks: The deal on the table comes after months of shuttle diplomacy have failed to end the war in Gaza, which began after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostage. About 105 prisoners were later released in a week-long ceasefire in November 2023 in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.

Abu Bakr Bashir and Gabby Sobelman contributed with reporting.