Officials "cautiously optimistic" Gaza deal will be struck this week

"Driving the news: Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived on Wednesday morning local time to represent the U.S. in the talks. Other participants include negotiating teams from Israel and Hamas, the prime minister of Qatar and the intelligence chiefs from Turkey and Egypt. The goal is to announce an agreement this week and begin releasing Israeli hostages next week, according to a source familiar with the talks."

"Behind the scenes: Two White House officials said there has been good progress in the talks and said an agreement could be reached within days. A senior Israeli official gave a similar status update: "There is progress. We feel cautious optimism." However, Israeli officials cast doubt on an assessment from Turkey's foreign minister that a ceasefire could be announced as early as Wednesday. The source familiar with the talks said the Qatari mediators believe an agreement can be reached by Friday."

"The source familiar with the talks said the Qatari mediators believe an agreement can be reached by Friday. Yes, but: Any agreement will focus at this stage on the hostage and prisoner exchange, the initial Israeli withdrawal and the ending of hostilities in Gaza. Other thorny issues like the process for disarming Hamas and the future governing structure of the enclave will be negotiated separately at a later stage."

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived to represent the U.S. in negotiations alongside negotiating teams from Israel and Hamas, Qatar's prime minister, and intelligence chiefs from Turkey and Egypt. Negotiators aim to announce an agreement this week and begin releasing Israeli hostages next week. Two White House officials reported good progress and said an agreement could be reached within days. A senior Israeli official expressed cautious optimism, while some Israeli officials doubted a ceasefire could be announced as early as Wednesday. Qatari mediators believe an agreement can be reached by Friday. Any initial agreement will focus on a hostage-prisoner exchange, an initial Israeli withdrawal, and ending hostilities in Gaza, with disarming Hamas and Gaza's future governance to be negotiated later.

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