(NewsNation) — Negotiations involving a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have been ongoing for more than a year, but nearing an actual agreement has never been this close to bringing 15 months of fighting to a pause.
But before a ceasefire is officially declared, several details still need to be addressed, Ret. U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen, Richard Newton told NewsNation.
“I believe we’re on a path to have at least an exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, but nothing is final at this point,” Newton, a senior NewsNation contributor, said on Wednesday.
There are still several implementation details to be ironed out before the ceasefire is finalized. This will include exactly how Israeli hostages will be released as well as how Palestinians are released from jail and where they will be sent, Newton said.
Other issues include the flow of humanitarian aid and who will control that flow into Gaza.
“There are many details we need to have sorted out here,” Newton said, adding, “But we are still a long way out from the end of what will be, at least through the first phase of what we think is going to be a deal.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other government officials still need to sign off on the ceasefire. Newton said that Netanyahu is “setting the conditions” for the ceasefire, but that Monday’s inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump may have emboldened the prime minister to act.
“The emphasis is on Israel and the emphasis is on who’s leading this effort — not Hamas, but Prime Minister Netanyahu,” Newton said.