Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and White House Middle East Coordinator Brett McGurk engaged in intense negotiations to secure the release of 50 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. After a breakthrough on November 12, where Hamas provided information about hostages, talks faced a setback when Hamas demanded the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Al-Shifa hospital. Despite this, negotiations continued, involving Qatar as the main mediator.

Following a call from President Joe Biden to the Qatari emir, a final deal was crafted in Doha, involving CIA Director Bill Burns. Israel’s war cabinet approved the deal with minor changes, and Hamas agreed to the terms the next day. The negotiation process, described as a “pilot” effort, began weeks after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, with confidence in communication established after the release of two American hostages on October 23.

The negotiation’s foundations involved Mossad director representing Israel and CIA Director Burns engaging with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh. Despite challenges, the U.S., Israel, and Qatar discussed details such as the timeframe, number of hostages, safe passage, and surveillance.

The deal, which initially releases 50 women and children, aims to pave the way for additional releases. While 10 Americans, including two women and a 3-year-old, remain unaccounted for, officials express determination to bring everyone home. The agreement is seen as a potential gateway to delivering more humanitarian aid to Gaza. The released hostages will receive medical attention in Israel, and efforts will be made to repatriate them. Confirmation on the release of American citizens may take 24 to 48 hours.