Two informed sources told the website:AxiosThe director of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, David Barnea, is expected to meet with the Qatari Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, in Europe at the end of this week to discuss resuming negotiations to release the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
The website did not reveal the names of the sources, noting that the meeting would be the first meeting between senior Israeli and Qatari officials since the collapse of the week-long ceasefire.
Israel’s return to the negotiating table indicates that it is ready to explore a new hostage deal, after the previous deal was halted following Hamas’ refusal to release the remaining women it is holding hostage, while Hamas says that these women are soldiers in the Israeli Defense Forces, according to the website.
A previous Axios report stated that mediators from Qatar contacted Israeli officials over the past few days to find out directions about relaunching indirect talks with Hamas regarding a new deal.
At the end of last week, after the initial Qatari move, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of the “war government” decided that the Mossad director would not travel to Qatar.
But after a “reaction” to the decision, Netanyahu changed course and allowed Barnea to deal with the Qataris, and an Israeli source indicated that Israel had expressed its willingness to discuss a new agreement that would guarantee the release of the remaining women.
Qatar is leading negotiations between Hamas and Israel. Many Hamas leaders reside in Doha.
Those talks led to a seven-day truce before hostilities resumed. The truce allowed Hamas to release dozens of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Israel releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and allowing humanitarian aid to flow into the Strip.
In early December, Israel returned the Mossad team from Doha after reaching a “deadlock” in the negotiations aimed at renewing the truce and exchanging detainees with Hamas, according to what Netanyahu’s office announced.
The office said in a statement: “After the negotiations reached a dead end and under the guidance of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mossad chief David Barnea ordered his team in Doha to return to Israel.”
He believed that “the Hamas terrorist organization did not implement its obligations under the agreement, which included the release of all kidnapped children and women according to a list that was transferred to Hamas and approved by it.”
In the statement, the Mossad chief thanked intelligence officials in the United States and Egypt, in addition to the Qatari prime minister, for the “tremendous mediation efforts” that led to a seven-day truce that began on November 24, and allowed for the cessation of hostilities and the release of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for the release of detainees. Palestinians in Israeli prisons.
The Israeli army announces the killing of 3 hostages “by mistake” in Gaza
On Friday, the Israeli army announced that 3 Israeli hostages who were being held in Gaza were killed by friendly fire.
Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel from Gaza on October 7, killing 1,200 people, according to Israel, which pledged to “eliminate” Hamas and continues to launch an attack on the Palestinian Strip, leaving more than 18,800 dead, according to the latest toll issued by the Ministry of Health. affiliated with the movement.
Israel and Hamas are sharing responsibility for the end of the truce and not extending it, contrary to the desire expressed by the mediation parties, Qatar, Egypt and the United States.
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2023-12-16 01:14:06
