Investing.com -- Israel and Hamas are reportedly close to finalizing a cease-fire agreement, which could be announced as soon as Tuesday, according to Arab and Israeli officials.
This development raises hopes for a temporary halt to the conflict in the Gaza Strip and the release of some hostages. According to CNN, Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages during the first phase of an emerging ceasefire agreement.
A group of negotiators, including Steve Witkoff, the Middle East envoy designated by President-elect Donald Trump, are in Doha, Qatar, working on the final draft of the deal.
The negotiation team also includes representatives from the U.S., Israel, and several Arab countries.
While the major points of the deal have been agreed upon, officials stated that some of the wording is still under negotiation. They also issued a cautionary note, reminding that previous rounds of talks have failed before reaching a successful conclusion.
The proposed cease-fire deal would still require approval from Israel's security cabinet and full government. Despite the challenges, officials from both sides have described the current progress as significant.
They noted that this is the closest the parties have come to a cease-fire since the end of the last pause in late 2023.
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