Israel and Hamas at 'pivotal moment' in ceasefire talks

Pressure ramps up for Gaza truce before Trump takes office

- BEL TREW, NIDAL AL-MUGHRABI

Mediators brokering a long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas are "close to a deal", a top US aide has said after a midnight breakthrough in talks attended by envoys of both Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

The outgoing US president's national security adviser Jake Sullivan said they were now at a "pivotal moment" in negotiations that he hoped could be concluded within the week. Families of the remaining 95 or so hostages waited anxiously for news of a deal they have spent more than a year campaigning for.

The text for a Gaza truce and release of hostages, loosely based on a deal tabled in the autumn, was presented by Qatar to both sides at talks in Doha, The Independent understands.

Attendees of the talks included the chiefs of Israel's Mossad and Shin Bet spy agencies as well as Qatar's prime minister. It is understood that Steve Witkoff, who will become Middle East envoy when Mr Trump returns to the White House next week, was also present.

"We are now at a pivotal point in the negotiations for a hostage deal and ceasefire in Gaza," Mr Sullivan said at the White House after officials said a breakthrough was reached early yesterday morning.

"The president spoke with the [Israeli] prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu... and just got off the phone with the Emir of Qatar. He'll be speaking soon, also with President Sisi of Egypt.

"We are close to a deal, and it can get done this week. I'm not making a promise or a prediction, but it is there for the taking, and we are going to work to make it happen."

Israel launched a ferocious assault in Gaza after Hamas attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, including children, according to Israeli figures.