January 13, 2025
We are very, very close. And yet being very close still means we’re far, because, until you actually get across the finish line, we’re not there. … Can we get it done before the 20th? It is possible, but I certainly can’t make any predictions that we will.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, speaking on CNN “State of the Union” about the possibility of a successful Israel-Hamas deal before President Biden leaves office next week.
Why It Matters: Fifteen months after Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, the two sides appear to be moving closer to a possible deal.
Details about a potential deal are scarce, though the central issues appear to be a release of hostages in exchange for detainees and a pause in fighting to allow for humanitarian aid. It’s worth noting that the Biden administration is working alongside the incoming Trump administration in Qatar, where Israeli and Hamas negotiators are moving toward an agreement.
Speaking last week during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort, President-elect Donald Trump said “all hell will break out in the Middle East and it will not be good for Hamas, and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone” if the Israeli hostages are not released by his January 20th inauguration.
Background: The war between Israel and Hamas, a US-designated terrorist group since 1997, began after the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack that killed 1,200 people (including Americans) and saw more than 240 people taken hostage. The war has led to tens of thousands of deaths in Gaza – where Hamas remains in power. The larger Middle East conflict has been transformed during this time, including the collapse of the Iranian-backed government in Syria in addition to the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal.
Read More: Progress made in talks over Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release, officials say (Associated Press)
What have the main obstacles been to a ceasefire deal in Gaza and the release of Israel’s hostages? (CBS News)
by Courtney Lesskis, based in Texas
