KATHMANDU: An agreement to halt the fighting in Gazais expected to be formally signed in Doha on Tuesday. A truce and deal to liberate the hostages who are "on the brink" of being taken are something that U.S. President Joe Biden expressed confidence about. A major turning point in the discussions was reached Monday when the mediators presented the final draft of an agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Biden stressed that the proposed deal would accomplish a number of important goals, such as stopping the fighting, strengthening Israel's security, freeing prisoners, and expanding aid for Palestinians. He emphasized the dire consequences the war has had on civilians, especially in Gaza.

A possible agreement would be achieved after sporadic negotiations for almost a year. Additionally, it would be the largest release of Israeli hostages since the beginning of the conflict, when Hamas traded half of its own prisoners for 240 Palestinian detainees held by Israel.

According to an unnamed official familiar with the negotiations, Qatar presented the ceasefire and hostage release proposal to both sides during the talks in Doha. Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, noted that the deal is close to being finalized, with all parties on the cusp of agreement.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that whether Hamas accepts the terms will determine the next actions. Blinken is scheduled to deliver a post-war strategy for Gaza on Tuesday, according to Axios.

The conflict has caused a lot of unhappiness throughout the Middle East, and Hamas has stated that it wants to look for a settlement to end it. Similarly, Israeli officials have hailed the success of the talks and commended the U.S. for its efforts to assist them.

There are still thought to be 98 captives in Gaza, despite reports that Israel is in advanced talks to release up to 33 inmates as part of the agreement. Gideon Saar, the Israeli foreign minister, praised the United States for its "huge efforts" in negotiating a possible agreement and voiced cautious confidence.

In addition to expressing optimism that the remaining difficulties will be resolved quickly, a Hamas official verified progress on a number of key subjects. For months, there has been discussion between the two sides about stopping the war in exchange for the release of captives and hostages.

After Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking more than 250 hostages, the battle intensified. In response, Israel's offensive in Gaza has left the region in ruins, killed over 46,000 people, and displaced a large portion of the population.

Although all parties agree on a truce and exchange of hostages, Hamas has demanded a permanent halt to the fighting and Israel's withdrawal from Gaza. Israel, however, is determined to continue its military operations until Hamas is eliminated.

The day of Donald Trump's inauguration, January 20, is generally considered to be the date for a ceasefire agreement. Now that Trump has threatened severe consequences if captives are not freed before he takes office, the negotiations are more urgent.

Both Biden's envoy Brett McGurk and Trump's ambassador Steve Witkoff are now in Doha. Regardless of the next change in power, their combined presence has been viewed as "critical" to guaranteeing U.S. support for the pact.

The proposed accord calls for the release of 33 hostages, including women, men over 50, children, and injured people. There would next be discussions about releasing the other hostages, including male servicemen and young men of military age and returning the bodies of slain captives.

The deal also calls for a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces. With security measures in place, forces would initially remain in border areas to safeguard Israeli towns before gradually withdrawing from vital routes, such as the Philadelphi and Netzarim areas.

The deal would let the return of unarmed citizens of northern Gaza, provided that safeguards are in place to prevent the passage of weapons to these regions. This seeks to strike a balance between security and humanitarian needs.

In order to permit civilian circulation while preserving the effectiveness of Israeli security measures, 14 small bridges are also to be constructed in specific locations. These structures will be part of bigger reconstruction projects in Gaza.

The deal might also free Palestinian militants convicted of carrying out deadly assaults, depending on the number of hostages still alive. However, those involved in the October 7, 2023, strikes in Israel would not be included in any prisoner exchanges.

Throughout the battle, Gaza's humanitarian condition has drastically worsened. The proposed agreement includes provisions to alleviate the suffering of displaced residents and offer required relief.

If the deal works, it might be a turning point in the Gaza conflict, bringing supplies to people and paving the way for long-term peace negotiations. There are still challenges to surmount because the agreement cannot be fully implemented until all parties have resolved their deep-seated differences.

The importance of finding a global solution to the Gaza conflict is evident in the role played by the international community, particularly the United States and Qatar, in mediating the talks.