Chethana Janith, Jadetimes Staff
C. Janith is a Jadetimes news reporter covering science and geopolitics.
The Biden administration is working closely with officials from the incoming government to finalize a ceasefire and hostage deal aimed at ending the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas before Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Following the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, discussions over a Gaza agreement have quietly resumed. These efforts come after months of challenges and stalled negotiations.
The current administration aims to secure a resolution during its remaining weeks, while Trump’s intent to begin his term with both the Lebanon and Gaza conflicts resolved has revitalized talks. This includes efforts to ensure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Multiple sources confirmed there has been close coordination between the two teams, with Trump’s representatives receiving updates on progress made by Biden’s officials.
Leading the initiative for the Biden administration are CIA Director Bill Burns and White House official Brett McGurk. On Trump’s side, the efforts are being managed by Steve Witkoff, recently appointed as Middle East envoy. Witkoff visited Israel and Qatar in late November, where discussions with the Qatari prime minister - a key mediator - focused on the Gaza conflict and potential ceasefire terms.
In a recent public statement, Trump emphasized the importance of securing the release of hostages before his inauguration, warning of serious consequences otherwise. His envoy, Witkoff, reinforced this message during an event in Abu Dhabi, urging stakeholders to heed the president-elect’s warnings.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken supported the urgency of these efforts, describing them as a shared commitment across party lines. He reiterated the administration’s determination to pursue all available avenues to achieve both a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
Biden Officials Welcome Support from Trump Administration
Despite significant policy differences between President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump, the current administration has embraced the incoming team’s support in advancing a hostage deal and ceasefire in Gaza.
“Both the outgoing and incoming teams are in constant communication to ensure a smooth transition,” said National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Monday, adding that he had spent considerable time over the weekend briefing his expected successor, Rep. Mike Waltz, on Syria.
Contrary to speculation that Trump might prefer resolving the 14-month conflict after taking office to claim more credit, his team has remained actively engaged. “He’s still going to take the credit for maintaining the ceasefire, but he’s working toward the outcome now,” a source familiar with Trump’s strategy said.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, did not comment on the progress of negotiations.
As discussions continue, participants acknowledge the complexity of the process. “I’m not going to detail the negotiations publicly, but we strongly believe a ceasefire is achievable,” said Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer on Monday. He reiterated that securing an agreement remains a top priority for the Biden administration.
Meanwhile, Trump’s additional Middle East adviser, Massad Boulos, expressed optimism, stating that the conflict is “practically over” and only the hostage deal remains unresolved. “This needs to happen immediately and should not be tied to broader post-conflict plans,” he noted, adding that both sides have largely agreed on the framework for a deal, apart from minor disagreements over specific detainees.
Efforts on both sides include active diplomatic engagements. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is set to travel to Israel this week for further talks on Gaza and other regional issues. His visit follows one by James Rubin, a senior official in the State Department, who recently held discussions in Jerusalem.
Trump Officials Engage with Israeli Leadership
Key members of President-elect Trump’s national security team, along with Trump himself, have been in direct communication with Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Incoming National Security Adviser Mike Waltz recently met with Ron Dermer, one of Netanyahu’s closest advisors, during a visit to Washington, according to a source familiar with the meeting.
In Gaza, Hamas and other groups are believed to be holding around 100 hostages, most of whom were captured on October 7, 2023. Intelligence reports indicate that approximately half of the hostages are still alive.
The framework under negotiation builds on earlier efforts led by the Biden administration in collaboration with Qatar and Egypt. It proposes a “humanitarian” phase that would involve the release of female, elderly, and wounded hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Turkey has joined the discussions after Qatar closed Hamas’ political office in Doha, prompting much of the negotiating team to relocate to Turkey, according to diplomatic sources.
A major challenge in the negotiations has been Hamas’ demand for guarantees that Israel would end its military operations as part of the ceasefire agreement. While Hamas had softened this stance before talks collapsed, it remains unclear where they currently stand, especially after the recent killing of one of their leaders, Yahya Sinwar, by Israeli forces.
Sources involved in the discussions suggest that Hamas may now be more flexible, with Qatar applying increased pressure on the group as Doha seeks to establish strong ties with the incoming Trump administration.
“Indirect negotiations are underway. We can be more optimistic than before – but we are not there yet. I hope we will be there,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated on Monday.
Trump has appointed Adam Boehler, a close associate of his son-in-law Jared Kushner and a former official from his first administration, to lead hostage affairs in the new government. Boehler is expected to play a more hands-on role in the Gaza negotiations compared to the current office under Biden, known as SPEHA (Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs).
Ruby Chen, whose son Itay Chen was taken hostage and later confirmed to have been killed, expressed hope for progress under Boehler’s leadership. “I hope his mandate will lead to success in our case,” Chen said, adding that the office’s congressional approval allows for direct communication with groups holding hostages.
Chen emphasized the importance of focused efforts, saying, “This office can dedicate 100% of its time to U.S. hostages and could take the lead in negotiating directly with Hamas for their release.”
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