Both Hamas and Israel are optimistic about reaching a truce in Gaza

Israeli sources familiar with the negotiations assured EFE this Tuesday that There is “optimism” about the possibility of reaching a truce in the Gaza Stripin a tone similar to that expressed by Hamas, although they recognized that some obstacles remain.

“It is important to note that, according to sources familiar with the matter, there are still gaps. However, we are optimistic,” a source close to the negotiations told EFE under anonymity.

For its part, Hamas had already expressed today, in a statement, that “in view of the serious and positive talks” of the mediators in Doha it was “possible to reach an agreement to a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange if the (Israeli) occupation stops imposing new conditions.”

The message from both comes in full force on the negotiating table to finalize an agreement that has been stalled for months, and that has regained strength after the insistence of the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, that the hostages, including some with dual North American nationality, be released before his inauguration on January 20.

For his part, Israeli mediator and activist Gershon Baskin warned in a government still “willing to sacrifice Israeli hostages.”

“It is important to remember that there is no deal until there is a deal. Since July, Hamas has been open to a staged deal, according to the Israeli demand. But Hamas stressed that without an Israeli commitment to end the war in the second stage, including withdrawal from Gaza – with international guarantees – Hamas will not accept an agreement,” Baskin explained.

On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the agreement is “closer than ever,” in statements reported by Israeli media during a closed-door panel in the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament).

And today, a Palestinian source confirmed to EFE that the president of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Mahmud Abbas, He is on his way to Cairo urgently. His visit was scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, coinciding with the D-8 summit, but the Egyptian authorities have urged his presence this evening, the source said.

Several media outlets published this afternoon that the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, He was also on his way to Cairo to participate in the negotiations, but a spokesman for the president and both Egyptian and local media denied it shortly afterwards.

In more than a year of war, Hamas and Israel have only reached a ceasefire agreement, in November of last year, which served to free 105 of the 251 kidnapped on October 7, in exchange for releasing 240 prisoners. Palestinians in Israeli prisons.