David Barnea, the Mossad director, played a crucial role in determining when to show tactical flexibility to seal the deal with Hamas. While many remain unaware of the exact details of his actions.

President Joe Biden and his top diplomats, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, had sought closure during his term.

Israel, Hamas, the US, and Qatar have officially signed the hostage deal and Gaza ceasefire in Doha, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Office confirmed on Friday morning. The deal will now be presented before the security cabinet for a vote, which will not occur until Saturday.

Israeli negotiators attending ceasefire and hostage release talks in Doha have expressed “cautious optimism,” even as some gaps between both sides persist, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.

Negotiators are on “the brink” of an agreement to end the fighting and free hostages, according to President Biden.

Israel and Hamas are under pressure from outgoing US President Joe Biden and Trump to reach a deal before the January 20 inauguration.

Hamas stood by its demand on Tuesday that Israel fully end its assault on Gaza under any deal to release hostages, and said U.S. President-elect Donald Trump was rash to say there would be "hell to pay" unless they go free by his Jan.

Negotiators in Qatar are close to a ceasefire deal that sees an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian detainees, a six-week pause in fighting and eventual troop withdrawal from Gaza.

Nevertheless, Bar admitted that releasing terrorists, some of whom he personally arrested, was "very difficult."

As Israel and Hamas reach a ceasefire after 15 months of brutal conflict, fears grow over the prisoner swap deal. Could it lead to the release of the next Hamas terror mastermind, like October 7 plotter Yahya Sinwar?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is sending the director of the Mossad foreign intelligence agency to ceasefire negotiations in Qatar in a sign of progress in talks on the war in Gaza