Gaza Ceasefire Deal Nearing Completion, Could Be Finalized Soon

A comprehensive ceasefire agreement for Gaza is approaching finalization and could be completed within the next two days, according to multiple diplomatic sources involved in the negotiations. The potential breakthrough comes as high-level talks continue in Egypt, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggesting that President Donald Trump might make a Middle East visit contingent on a successful deal.

Current negotiations involve an "expanded meeting" in Egypt including US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, presidential advisor Jared Kushner, and Israel's chief negotiator Ron Dermer, according to Egyptian state-affiliated television. The discussions are centered on implementing President Trump's ceasefire proposal for Gaza, with officials from the United States, Israel, and Qatar expressing optimism about reaching an agreement this week.

Substantial advances have been reported in the talks, with a Hamas official confirming that the Palestinian group and Israel have already exchanged lists of hostages and prisoners scheduled for release as part of the potential agreement. Two White House officials acknowledged meaningful progress, indicating that a final agreement could be reached within days rather than weeks.

A senior Israeli official characterized the mood as one of "cautious optimism," stating simply: "There is progress. We feel cautious optimism." Meanwhile, sources familiar with the Qatari mediation efforts indicated they expect to reach an agreement by Friday, suggesting a clear timeline for the potential resolution of the conflict that has continued for multiple years.