Sun Jan 19 01:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Unlikely Alliance Secures Gaza Truce After 466 Days of War
**Doha, Qatar** – A last-minute scramble involving an unlikely alliance of Qatari, US, and Israeli officials secured a cease-fire in Gaza after 466 days of conflict, according to multiple sources. The deal, brokered by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, involved intense negotiations with Hamas and Israeli representatives, culminating in a tense standoff just hours before the official announcement.
Reporting from Jerusalem and London, The Times revealed details of the final negotiations, drawing on interviews with nine individuals involved in or briefed on the talks. The Qatari Prime Minister collaborated with both President Biden’s envoy, Brett McGurk, and President-elect Donald Trump’s representative, Steve Witkoff, forming an unprecedented partnership to push the deal across the finish line.
While a tentative agreement had been reached with Hamas, a late demand from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the identities of Palestinian prisoners to be released threatened to derail the entire process. The Israeli delegation, headed by officials from Israel’s intelligence agencies, insisted on clarifying the prisoner list, causing a significant delay in the official announcement. The final truce, however, closely resembled proposals previously put forth by Egypt, Qatar, and the Biden administration over the course of 2024.
The successful negotiation highlights the complex web of diplomatic maneuvering required to bring an end to protracted conflicts and underscores the significant role played by international mediators in facilitating peace.
First Piper 