Negotiations between Israel and Hamas have resumed in Qatar, according to CNN.

On Friday, January 3, delegations from Israel and Hamas arrived in Qatar. The parties continued negotiations concerning the release of hostages and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

This was reported by RBK-Ukraine citing CNN.

According to sources from the publication, on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a meeting to discuss the "mandate of the delegation." This was confirmed by his press secretary.

Netanyahu's office announced that representatives from the Israeli Security Agency (ISA), the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and the Israeli foreign intelligence service "Mossad" arrived in the Qatari capital, Doha, to participate in the negotiations.

Hamas added that this round of talks focused on an agreement "leading to a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of occupying forces from the Gaza Strip, and the details of its implementation, as well as the return of displaced persons to their homes from which they were expelled in all areas of the Strip."

Draft Peace Agreement between Israel and Hamas

Negotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, began in May 2024. However, they have been at an impasse for several months, with the agreement hanging in the balance.

The three-stage proposal put forward by U.S. President Joe Biden at the end of May combined the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip with a "complete and comprehensive ceasefire."

The first stage is expected to last six weeks and will include "the withdrawal of Israeli troops from all populated areas of Gaza" and "the release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly, and the wounded in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners."

A diplomatic source familiar with the matter informed CNN in December that the agreement generally aligns with the proposal put forth by Biden.

"What has changed is that Israeli troops are likely to remain in Gaza temporarily," the source said.

According to him, the changes pertain to the first phase of the agreement regarding troops in the strip of land on the border between Gaza and Egypt known as the "Philadelphi Corridor" and the area crossing this strip, known as the "Nitzarim Corridor."

In August, the negotiations stalled due to Israel's demand to keep its troops along the Philadelphi Corridor and Hamas's insistence on their withdrawal.

In November, Qatar announced that it was suspending its role as a mediator in the negotiations due to the parties' unwillingness to reach an agreement.

Last week, both sides accused each other of the negotiations being at a standstill. Hamas claimed that Israel had raised "new issues and conditions" regarding the terms of the agreement, while Netanyahu accused Palestinian militants of "deviating from the agreements."

In December, sources in Israel and Hamas expressed cautious optimism regarding the prospects for reaching an agreement.

The Hostage and Missing Persons Forum, representing the families of hostages, welcomed the news of the resumption of negotiations but urged for urgency.

"We cannot miss this window of opportunity! The 100 hostages being held deep within Hamas tunnels in Gaza have no time for delays in negotiations," the forum representatives stated on social media platform X.

Additionally, on January 1, Hamas terrorists fired rockets from the Gaza Strip at southern regions of Israel.

In response, Israel threatened the group with powerful strikes on the Gaza Strip if the militants do not release the Israeli hostages they have been holding in the strip for 14 months and cease rocket attacks on the country.