HOSTAGE HOPE
Israel is ‘on the brink’ of signing ceasefire deal with terrorists Hamas, says Biden – & captives could be freed in DAYS
The proposal could see hostages released hours after a ceasefire is announced
US PRESIDENT Joe Biden says Israel is "on the brink" of securing a successful ceasefire deal with terror group Hamas.
Officials believes they are the closest they have ever been to finally freeing the captives snatched on October 7 - as dozens could be rescued in just days.
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Biden, who has just days left in office before Donald Trump arrives, gave a positive prediction for the future of Gaza in his final foreign policy speech.
He said a deal to secure the release of the hostages is nearly complete and that war-torn Palestine would see a "surge" of aid rushed in once agreed.
Biden announced on Monday: “We are on the brink of a proposal that I laid out in detail months ago finally coming to fruition.”
He added that the deal - heavily backed by the US - would “free the hostages, halt the fighting, provide security to Israel, and allow us to significantly surge humanitarian assistance”.
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The president spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.
He has also spoke with Qatar's Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani who is mediating the tense negotiations this week.
Hopeful officials are predicting that the following hours will be crucial for the fate of hostages with an end to the conflict finally in sight.
Over in the Middle East, Tel Aviv and Hamas have been sent a final draft of the deal today where they are hoped to sign.
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A diplomatic source told : "We are the closest we’ve ever been."
An Israeli source added that we are “on the cusp” of an agreement which could be finalised in "hours or days".
My daughter is the only British hostage left in Gaza - she’s been imprisoned for 425 days & I fear she will starve to death
The proposal will see three hostages held by the terror group released just 48 hours after the ceasefire is in place, US officials said.
It is then believed that 34 hostages will be released across the first three phases in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
One of the officials said the hostages released at first will be those “in very bad shape” while the rest of those held in Gaza would follow.
Along with the ones in the worst condition, women, children and the elderly will also be the first let go.
Israel has agreed to release 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 34 hostages, according to the .
The exact number of hostages left is still unknown with Hamas refusing to admit who is still alive.
Local media report that the terror group has already accepted the deal without any reservations.
They are happy with the proposal as it is expected to call for Israel to withdraw from populated areas of Gaza.
Israel is said to be willing to take its troops out of Gaza when the hostages have all been released, reports.
Earlier today an official said a ceasefire and hostage deal has been presented by Qatar to both sides at talks in Doha.
The briefing included the chiefs of Israel's Mossad and Shin Bet spy agencies and Qatar's prime minister.
Today's crunch talks were also joined by Steve Witkoff, who will become US envoy when Trump returns to the US presidency next week.
The official stressed the following hours are crucial for the outcome of the breakthrough reached in the early hours of Monday.
"The next 24 hours will be pivotal to reaching the deal," the official said."
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the negotiations were being coordinated between Biden's and Trump's teams.
"There is progress, it looks much better than previously. I want to thank our American friends for the huge efforts they are investing to secure a hostage deal," Saar said.
List of hostages Hamas says will release
WOMEN AND CHILDREN:
- Romi Gonen, 23
- Emily Damari, 27
- Arbel Yehud, 29
- Doron Steinbrecher, 31
- Ariel Bibas, 5
- Kfir Bibas, 1
- Shiri Silberman Bibas, 33
- Liri Albag, 19
- Karina Ariev, 20
- Agam Berger, 21
- Danielle Gilboa, 20
- Naama Levy, 20
REST OF THE MEN:
- Ohad Ben-Ami, 58
- Gadi Moshe Moses, 80
- Keith Siegel, 65
- Ofer Calderon, 54
- Eli Sharabi, 52
- Itzik Elgarat, 70
- Shlomo Mansour, 86
- Ohad Yahalomi, 50
- Youssef Hamis Ziyadne, 54
- Oded Lifshitz, 84
- Tsahi Idan, 50
Source:
It is expected that both Biden and Trump want a deal to be made before the pair swap over in the White House.
A Hamas official said a number of contentious issues still need to be resolved, including an Israeli commitment to ending the war and details about the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the hostage-prisoner exchange.
In Cairo, an Egyptian security official said the draft sent to the two warring sides did not comprise the final agreement but "aims to resolve outstanding issues that had hindered previous negotiations".
The United States, Qatar and Egypt have worked for more than a year on talks to end the war in Gaza but to no avail.
Hamas has said that it won't release the remaining captives without an end to the war.
But Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has vowed to continue the campaign until total victory over the militant group.
Israel has never agreed to leave the devastated Gaza Strip with Netanyahu always being steadfast about his wants to keep control of the region.
Israel say this is due to fear that the terror group could regroup and grow back in size and strength if they are allowed to exist without surveillance.
Families of the roughly 100 hostages still held in Gaza have been pressing Netanyahu to reach a deal to bring their loved ones home for over a year.
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Meanwhile, Washington is looking to reach a ceasefire deal and the release of the hostages before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20.
He has previously warned that "all hell will break out in the Middle East" if the remaining hostages are not released before he assumes office.
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