A ceasefire agreement has been reached in Gaza between Israel and Hamas after more than 15 months of war. The United States, Egypt, and Qatar played critical roles in mediating the lengthy efforts to end the fighting in the devastated Palestinian territory. After numerous near-agreements and setbacks, the latest negotiations in Doha, Qatar, succeeded, thanks to key negotiators from all sides.
Key Players in the Negotiations
David Barnea
The head of Israel’s Mossad spy agency, David Barnea, led Israel’s negotiation team. He worked closely with the head of Shin Bet, political advisors, and military experts supporting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite his prominent role, Barnea kept a discreet profile during the talks.
Ronen Bar
As the head of Israel’s Shin Bet security agency, Ronen Bar has been involved in negotiations for months. His agency oversees Palestinian security prisoners, some of whom will be released in exchange for Israeli hostages under the agreement. Since taking over Shin Bet in 2021, Bar publicly assumed responsibility for the agency’s failure to prevent Hamas’ attacks on October 7, 2023, and pledged to investigate after the war ends.
Brett McGurk
President Joe Biden’s top Middle East adviser played a central role as the lead U.S. negotiator. McGurk, a veteran of Mideast policy under multiple administrations, has been instrumental in drafting the agreement and has frequently traveled to the region for talks with officials from Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah.
Steve Witkoff
Steve Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East under President-elect Donald Trump, engaged with key stakeholders in recent weeks, including Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Witkoff coordinated with Biden’s foreign policy team as the outgoing and incoming U.S. administrations aligned efforts on the deal.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani
Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister spearheaded the country’s mediation efforts. Acting as a primary link to Hamas, Al Thani facilitated indirect communication between Hamas and Israel. Doha, Qatar’s capital, was the venue for the final and decisive phase of negotiations. Al Thani announced that the ceasefire would take effect on Sunday.
Hassan Rashad
Egypt’s General Intelligence Agency director, Hassan Rashad, served as a liaison with Hamas. Appointed in October 2024, Rashad succeeded Abbas Kamel, who had overseen earlier negotiations. Cairo, another key site for talks, will host further discussions on implementing the agreement.
Khalil al-Hayya
Hamas’ acting political bureau chief and lead negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, has coordinated through Qatari and Egyptian mediators without direct contact with Israeli or American officials. His role expanded after the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who had been orchestrating the group’s position in the negotiations. Al-Hayya, regarded as less hardline than Sinwar, has extensive experience in ceasefire talks, dating back to 2014. Despite surviving an Israeli airstrike in 2007 that killed several family members, he has remained a central figure in Hamas’ leadership.
SOURCE : AP NEWS | Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |