Negotiators in Doha are set to finalize a ceasefire agreement for Gaza on Tuesday, following a pivotal "breakthrough" in talks that have raised hopes of ending the ongoing Israeli war, Reuters reported.

Qatar's foreign ministry, on its part, said on Tuesday that negotiations in Doha for a ceasefire-prisoner exchange deal were in their "final stages".

"We do believe that we are at the final stages... certainly we are hopeful that this would lead very soon to an agreement," foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told a news conference, adding that "until there is an announcement... we shouldn't be over-excited about what's happening right now."

It also announced that obstacles to the deal had been overcome.

"During the past months, there were underlying issues, major issues between the two parties unresolved. These issues were resolved during the talks in the past couple of weeks, and therefore we have reached a point where the major issues that were preventing a deal from happening were addressed," al-Ansari told a news conference.

Meanwhile, Hamas issued a statement revealing that it contacted and held consultations with the leaders of the Palestinian factions and informed them of the progress reached in the ongoing negotiations in Doha. 

The movement affirmed that it will pursue communications and consultations until the ceasefire-prisoner exchange agreement is concluded, knowing that it is in its final stages, as per the statement.

US President Joe Biden had indicated that a ceasefire and the release of captives could be imminent.

According to a source familiar with the negotiations, a final draft of the agreement was presented to both "Israel" and Hamas on Monday, after midnight discussions attended by envoys from both Biden and President-elect Donald Trump.

A Palestinian source close to the talks told Reuters that the deal could be finalized as early as Tuesday if discussions proceed smoothly.

The Financial Times cited a diplomat briefed on the negotiations as saying that an agreement could be finalized as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, with implementation expected 48 to 72 hours after the announcement.

"They’ve agreed on all the main issues," the diplomat said. "It’s just logistical and minor issues still being discussed."

The draft text, which outlines the terms for a ceasefire and the release of Israeli captives, was reportedly presented by Qatar to both parties in Doha.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed that the ball was now in Hamas' court, amid expectations that he will unveil a post-war recovery plan for Gaza later on Tuesday, according to Axios.

Final phase of Gaza truce talks

Meanwhile, AFP, citing a source familiar with the negotiations aimed at ending the war in Gaza, reported that a "final round" of Gaza truce talks is scheduled to begin Tuesday in Qatar.

The source, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the talks, confirmed that the meetings "are aimed at finalizing the remaining details of the deal."

The talks will involve the heads of the Israeli intelligence agencies, the Middle East envoys for both the incoming and outgoing US administrations, and Qatar's prime minister.

Key details

If the deal succeeds, the gradual ceasefire could mark the end of more than a year of sporadic negotiations and result in the largest release of Israeli captives since the early stages of the war, when Hamas released roughly half of its captives in exchange for 240 Palestinian detainees.

In further detail, an Israeli official stated that negotiations were in advanced stages for the release of 33 of the remaining 98 Israeli captives, marking the first phase of the deal. In exchange, "Israel" will release 1,000 Palestinian detainees, according to a Palestinian source close to the talks, who added that the first phase would last for 60 days.

Meanwhile, Hamas fighters allegedly involved in Operation Al-Aqsa Flood will not be released.

The Israeli official mentioned that the first stage of the agreement would involve the release of 33 captives, including "children, women, female soldiers, men above 50, and the wounded and sick," as well as a gradual, partial withdrawal of invading Israeli units.

Commenting on the number of detainees, The Times of Israel considered, citing a copy of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press, that "Israel" will pay a steep price to secure the release of female soldiers being held captive.

Among the 33 would be five female Israeli soldiers, each of whom would be released in exchange for 50 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 convicted security prisoners who are serving life sentences.

Related News

Lavrov calls for inclusive dialogue in Syria including external powers

Biden to remove Cuba from terror list

Security measures will be implemented along the Philadelphi border corridor with Egypt, located on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip, with "Israel" set to withdraw from portions of the area following the initial days of the agreement.

"Unarmed civilians" from northern Gaza will be permitted to return, with safeguards in place to prevent the "smuggling of weapons." Israeli forces are also expected to pull back from the Netzarim Axis in central Gaza.

The Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza will begin operating gradually, facilitating the exit of patients and humanitarian cases from the Gaza Strip for medical treatment.

Furthermore, the Gaza Strip is poised to receive a substantial increase in humanitarian aid, as international organizations, including the United Nations, warn of an escalating humanitarian crisis.

While "Israel" has agreed to allow the entry of aid into Gaza, disagreements persist over the volume of aid permitted and how much will actually reach those in need.

Who will 'control Gaza' after the war? Key uncertainties unfold

One of the key uncertainties in the ongoing negotiations is who will "take control of Gaza" after the war.

The current round of talks appears to have sidelined this issue, given its complexity and the potential challenges it could pose to reaching a limited agreement.

"Israel" has made it clear that it will not end the war as long as Hamas remains in power, while also rejecting the idea of the Palestinian Authority assuming control over Gaza.

From the outset of its genocide, "Israel" has insisted it will retain security control over Gaza once the fighting ceases.

On its part, the international community has emphasized that Gaza should be governed by Palestinians. Nevertheless, there have been ongoing discussions between "Israel", the United Arab Emirates, and the United States regarding the establishment of a "temporary administration to oversee Gaza until a restructured Palestinian Authority can assume control."

Israeli extremists' reactions to Gaza deal

In a post on X, Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir expressed strong opposition to the ongoing Gaza ceasefire deal, which includes the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons and the "return of thousands of Gaza residents to northern Gaza and the withdrawal of the [IOF] from the Netzarim Axis."

Ben-Gvir argued that the agreement "effectively erases the achievements of the war that were paid for with the heavy bloodshed of our fighters in Gaza," a war that has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Israeli occupation soldiers.

He also criticized the deal for not securing the release of all Israeli hostages, urged Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to oppose it with him, and threatened to resign from the government if it proceeds.

Ben-Gvir called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "come to his senses and take steps that will lead to Hamas' defeat and the release of our hostages without compromising Israel's security: to completely cease the transfer of humanitarian aid, fuel, electricity, and water to Gaza, alongside continued military strikes on Hamas until its absolute defeat."

Smotrich calls Gaza deal 'catastrophe'

Yesterday, relatives of Israeli captives held in the Gaza Strip angrily criticized Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for opposing the ceasefire-prisoner exchange agreement being negotiated in Qatar.

Smotrich, the leader of the Religious Zionism party, issued a statement warning that his party “will not be part of” the proposed agreement, which he described as "a catastrophe for Israel’s national security."

"We will not be part of a surrender deal that would include releasing terrorists, stopping the war and dissolving the achievements that were paid for with much blood, and abandoning many hostages," he asserted.

He argued that "now is the time to continue with all our might, to occupy and cleanse the entire Strip, to finally take control of humanitarian aid from Hamas, and to open the gates of hell on Gaza until Hamas surrenders completely and all the hostages are returned."

Angered by his statement, dozens of family members of the captives stormed into a meeting room in the Knesset, where the Finance Committee was convening to discuss the 2025 budget.

A verbal altercation ensued with him, lasting over an hour, during which they accused him of "abandoning the captives."

Netanyahu 'wasted time, lives' in pursuit of political goals: Maariv

On its part, the Israeli newspaper Maariv acknowledged that those who called for advancing the Israeli election date to end the war and secure the release of captives made a critical error by focusing on elections in "Israel," rather than advocating for earlier elections in the United States.

The report argued that the timeline for captives' release, which "Israel" and Hamas are expected to finalize, is largely shaped by the explicit threats of incoming US President Donald Trump, coupled with growing indications that the current phase of the war is nearing its conclusion.

Maariv admitted that "Trump strikes more fear than Ben-Gvir and Smotrich." The paper noted that Netanyahu worked tirelessly to explain this dynamic to his allies, finding a receptive audience in Smotrich, who is banking on Trump's support for occupying the West Bank in 2025. The newspaper suggested that "Gaza can be sacrificed" in pursuit of this goal.

The editorial criticized Netanyahu's decision to pursue a deal, citing it as a move driven by "incorrect reasons". It stated that while the deal may offer some immediate benefits, the true costs—such as the loss of time and lives—are stark.

"All that remains is to mourn the wasted time, the hostages who were killed or died in captivity, who could have returned home, and the soldiers who perished without clear objectives or a plan to replace Hamas' rule," it stressed.

The paper concluded by noting the dire situation of the captives: "Some are no longer alive. Their condition is worsening... Let us pray that no unexpected events delay the final approval of what should have been decided long ago."

It is important to highlight that, despite ongoing negotiations, the Gaza Strip continues to endure relentless Israeli bombardment, exacerbating an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The ongoing Israeli genocide killed more than 46,000 Palestinians—predominantly women and children—while over 110,000 have been injured. Meanwhile, Gaza lies in ruins, as the Israeli carnage relentlessly devastates the region.

Read more: Gaza post-war phase will be solely Palestinian: Hamas official