Israel-Gaza ceasefire latest: Truce deal at closest point in months says Qatar as talks in final stages
A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is as “close as it has ever been”, according to Qatari negotiators who have been hosting talks.
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari told a news conference that talks on the final details were underway.
He said: “Negotiations are taking place on final details but we have ironed out the main obstacles.”
“Today we are closest to any time in the past to a deal. The situation is still fluid but we are all upbeat.”
A Palestinian source close to the talks told Reuters he expected the deal to be finalised on Tuesday if “all goes well”.
Joe Biden said the deal would “free the hostages, halt the fighting, provide security to Israel and allow us to significantly surge humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians”.
An Israeli official said the first stage of the deal would see 33 hostages set free, including children, women – including some female soldiers – men above 50, and the wounded and sick.
It came as Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 18 people overnight, including six women and four children, health officials said on Tuesday.
