Hamas reportedly approves deal terms, Ben-Gvir admits to halting previous agreements

Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi (Likud) accused the US of jeopardizing IDF soldiers’ lives by imposing an arms embargo on Israel during a live interview on Kol Barama Radio on Monday.

“Due to the arms embargo imposed by the US, our soldiers were put at risk,” Karhi stated. He expressed optimism about the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, adding, “With God’s help, a new president will give us stronger support, enabling us to achieve our objectives and destroy Hamas.” 1

Hamas have stressed their keenness to reach an agreement to stop the war in Gaza, according to a press statement on Monday.

Rounds of intensive talks are planned in Cairo to put the final touches on remaining details for a Gaza ceasefire deal, Egypt's state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV quoted an informed source as saying on Monday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with the hostages' families on Tuesday.

A round of Gaza hostage, ceasefire talks will be held in Doha on Tuesday morning to finalize remaining details related to the deal, an official briefed on the negotiations told Reuters on Monday.

A deal to end the Gaza war is “closer than it’s ever been," the official said, adding that US President-elect Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, outgoing Biden administration envoy Brett McGurk, and Israel's Mossad chief David Barnea and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar were expected to attend.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan addressed President-elect Donald Trump's threats of "all hell breaking loose" on Hamas should the ceasefire deal not be signed by the time he enters office this time next week, saying "all hell has been breaking loose" on Hamas for the past 14 months. 

"The Israelis have destroyed their military formations, taken out their top leadership and removed their military capabilities in significant dimensions," Sullivan said during Monday afternoon press briefing at the White House. 

Israelis have not been holding back when it comes to going after Hamas, Sullivan said, adding he's not sure what it would mean to add further military pressure on the group beyond what's already happened. 

"But I do believe that the consequence of all of that degradation is that we are finally at the point, both from Israel's perspective and Hamas', where a deal could come together," Sullivan continued.

"We are coordinating closely with the incoming administration to make maximum use of this particular period to get this thing done," he said. 

The key terms of the hostage and ceasefire deal with Hamas were published on Monday evening.

President Biden spoke by phone on Monday evening with the Emir Sheikh Tamim al-Thani of Qatar and discussed efforts to reach a deal to release the hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza, the White House announced.

"Both leaders emphasized the urgent need for a deal to be implemented to return the hostages to their families and bring immediate relief to the people of Gaza through a surge in humanitarian aid enabled by the ceasefire and called for in the deal." the White House said.

The Qatari emir met today with a delegation of senior Hamas officials led by chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya and discussed efforts to reach a deal.

The Emir of Qatar also held a joint meeting with President Biden's envoy, Brett McGurk, and President Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, to discuss the hostage deal. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Biden is also expected to speak with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi today.

Turkey's intelligence chief discussed efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza in a phone call on Monday with officials from the political wing of Hamas, a Turkish security source said.

The source said MIT chief Ibrahim Kalin and Hamas officials had agreed to continue efforts to reach a truce.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed the efforts in a call with a Hamas official on Saturday as well, a Turkish diplomatic source said over the weekend.