Sources speaking to Al Jazeera verified that progress is underway in the negotiations, with a Qatari technical team currently working alongside Egyptians to finalize the details of a potential agreement. Typically, the involvement of technical teams signifies a shift towards operationalizing an agreement.
The agreement is structured into phases, and efforts are being made to specify the details of each phase. Hamas’s main concern lies in the implementation of the agreement.
The focus of the discussions has been on persuading Hamas to refrain from discussing a permanent ceasefire in the initial phase, as such an outcome is unlikely. Instead, Hamas is advocating for an extended ceasefire, lasting more than a month, to establish a semblance of normalcy that could garner international support for a comprehensive agreement.
Having covered these negotiations for several months, this marks the first time since December that key mediators are expressing optimism about a potential breakthrough in the talks.
