A senior Israeli envoy has met the prime minister of Qatar, a key mediator in the conflict in Gaza, a source said on Saturday, while sources from Egypt suggested Israel appeared to be more open to a new deal with Hamas. In another signal of a possible breakthrough, Israeli media said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would convene his security cabinet and deliver a televised statement on Saturday evening.
Quick Read
- Israeli Envoy Meets Qatar Prime Minister: A senior Israeli envoy, reportedly Mossad director David Barnea, met with Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
- Egypt’s Role in Mediation: Sources from Egypt indicated that Israel seems more open to a new deal with Hamas, facilitated by Qatari and Egyptian mediation.
- Possible Breakthrough in Negotiations: The meeting between the Israeli envoy and the Qatari Prime Minister, along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned security cabinet meeting and televised statement, suggest a potential breakthrough.
- Background of Gaza War: The conflict, which began on October 7 following a Hamas killing and kidnapping spree in southern Israel, has led to a significant civilian toll in Gaza and efforts to destroy Hamas.
- Efforts to Recover Hostages: A key aspect of the conflict for Israel is the recovery of hostages held by Hamas.
- Previous Truce and Hostage Exchange: A week-long truce in November, brokered by Qatar and Egypt, led to an exchange involving the release of over 100 individuals held by Hamas and 240 Palestinian women and teenagers from Israeli jails.
- Mossad’s Involvement in Negotiations: Mossad, Israel’s spy service, represented Israel in the negotiations, with its director meeting the Qatari Prime Minister in a European capital.
- Shift in Israeli Stance: According to Egyptian security sources, Israeli officials seem more willing to strike a new ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.
- Details of the Hostage Crisis: The crisis has intensified in Israel, especially after the Israeli military accidentally killed three hostages in Gaza who approached them with a white flag.
- Status of Remaining Hostages: Israel believes that over 20 of the 130 hostages still held in Gaza might be deceased. Families of the hostages are urging the Israeli government to consider releasing senior Palestinian militants in any new swap deal.
- Public and Political Pressure in Israel: The hostage situation has led to public rallies and demands for more active government intervention to secure the hostages’ safe return.
- Hamas’s Response: While a Hamas official reported no new developments in hostage negotiations, the group has been trying to influence Israeli public opinion, possibly as part of the negotiation strategy.
Reuters has the story:
Israeli envoy meets Qatari PM amid hopes for fresh truce talks
Newslooks- (Reuters)
A senior Israeli envoy has met the prime minister of Qatar, a key mediator in the conflict in Gaza, a source said on Saturday, while sources from Egypt suggested Israel appeared to be more open to a new deal with Hamas.
In another signal of a possible breakthrough, Israeli media said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would convene his security cabinet and deliver a televised statement on Saturday evening.
The Gaza war, triggered by a shock Hamas killing and kidnapping spree in south Israel on Oct. 7, has shaken regional and world powers as the Palestinian civilian toll spirals.
While pledging to destroy Hamas, Israel has also sought to recover hostages held by the Iranian-backed Islamist group.
In late November, it entered a week-long, Qatari- and Egyptian-brokered truce under which Hamas released more than 100 women, children and foreigners it was holding in exchange for 240 Palestinian women and teenagers freed from Israeli jails.
Representing Israel at those negotiations was its spy service Mossad. On Friday, Mossad director David Barnea met Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in a European capital, a source told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
Axios, which broke the news of the talks, said it was the first meeting between the two since the November truce. The source who spoke to Reuters said Barnea returned to Israel early on Saturday to brief Netanyahu.
Two Egyptian security sources said Israeli officials appeared more willing, in calls with mediators, to strike a fresh deal for a Gaza ceasefire and release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the recovery of hostages.
The Egyptian sources said Israeli officials appeared to have changed their mind on some points that they had previously refused, but did not go into further detail.
There was no immediate response from Netanyahu government spokespeople to the Egyptian assessment or to Barnea’s mission.
The hostage crisis has become ever-more acute in Israel since its military disclosed that troops had accidentally killed three hostages who approached them with a white flag after apparently having escaped their captors in Gaza on Friday.
Israel believes that another 20 or more of the 130 hostages still held in Gaza are dead. Families of the hostages held a rally on Saturday, demanding that Israel consider releasing senior Palestinian militants from jail in any new swap deal.
“The Israeli government needs to be active. They need to put an offer on the table, including prisoners with blood on their hands, and put the best offer on the table to get the hostages back alive,” said Ruby Chen, father of 19-year-old hostage Itay.
“We don’t want them back in bags.”
A Hamas official, when asked earlier if there was a drive to resume hostage negotiations, told Reuters there was nothing new to report. But in an apparent effort to sway Israeli public opinion, Hamas also released a video showing slain.
