Gaza cease-fire, hostage swap deal ‘in final stages,’ Hamas says

By Nour Abuaisha

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – Palestinian resistance group Hamas said Tuesday that a Gaza cease-fire and prisoner swap agreement is in “its final stages.”

In a statement, Hamas underlined the need “to continue consultations with Palestinian faction leaders until the agreement is finalized.”

The Palestinian group said it held a series of consultations with faction leaders “to update them on the progress made in the ongoing negotiations in Doha.”

The faction leaders stressed the importance of "comprehensive national preparedness for the upcoming phase and its requirements,” Hamas said, without giving details.

According to the statement, the faction leaders expressed hope that this round of negotiations would conclude with "a clear and comprehensive agreement.”

Qatar said early Tuesday that Gaza cease-fire negotiations are in their "final details" and that announcing an agreement is “imminent.”

“A draft agreement has been handed to both Hamas and Israel and major obstacles on key contentious issues between the two sides have been addressed,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told a press conference in Doha.

Palestinian sources earlier said that a Gaza cease-fire and prisoner exchange deal is “nearly ready” and could be signed by Friday.

The sources, speaking to Anadolu on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the talks, said that progress had been made to finalize the agreement.

On Monday, the Israeli public broadcaster KAN said that the Israeli Security Cabinet might convene on Tuesday to approve the agreement.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala