How the hostage deal came about: Negotiations stumbled, but persistence finally won out

By COLLEEN LONG, SEUNG MIN KIM, SAM MAGDY and JULIA FRANKEL
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Negotiations to free the hostages held by Hamas hardly ran smoothly. Hamas resisted as Israel laid waste to huge areas of Gaza. But talks proceeded, aided by intermediaries in Qatar, eventually leading to Wednesday’s agreement. A month and a half after Hamas raided Israel, killing about 1,200 and grabbing hundreds, the deal was sealed. There would be a cease-fire, and dozens of hostages — but not all — would be released, and so would many Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. Through skips and stumbles, the negotiators’ persistence paid off with an agreement. There apparently was a final hiccup as no hostages were to be released before Friday.