The negotiations that led to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement took months and months. At the center of the talks representing the United States was Brett McGurk, the White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa.

The deal between Israel and Hamas to release hostages being held in Gaza and begin a ceasefire was officially signed by negotiators in Doha on Thursday, according to two sources familiar with the issue.

Rarely have representatives of current and new presidents of different parties worked together at such a high-stakes moment. But the president and the president-elect didn’t quite share credit.

The story of how Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza stretches back over more than a year. The timing and unlikely partners who coalesced to push negotiations across the line help explain why it finally happened.

A Palestinian source close to the talks says he expects the deal to be finalised imminently if ‘all goes well’.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's adviser Ophir Falk as well as White House Middle East envoy Brett McGurk and the upcoming Donald Trump administrations Middle East envoy pick Steve Witkoff w

(Gil Cohen-Magen/AP File) Brett McGurk, the U.S. envoy for the global coalition against ... al-Thani speaks at a joint press conference with the U.S. secretary of state in Doha, Qatar, June 12, 2024. (Ibraheem Al Omari/AP File) Khalil al-Hayya, a high ...

Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is in the region and has met with Israeli and Qatari officials in recent days. He’s closely coordinating with Joe Biden’s outgoing Middle East envoy, Brett McGurk, who has been in Doha for several days.

BRETT MCGURK, White House Coordinator For the Middle ... And I spent most of the last six weeks, first in Cairo, then in Doha, kind of nailing this down. And it was at the end of December, Amna.

DOHA/CAIRO -Negotiators will meet in Doha on ... Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy; Mr Brett McGurk, Mr Biden’s outgoing Middle East envoy; and Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed ...

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On January 11, Witkoff flew to Israel, securing a meeting with Netanyahu. McGurk called in from Doha. Netanyahu agreed to send the heads of Israeli intelligence and internal security back to Doha for negotiations, which mostly took place in the Qatari prime minister’s private office.