DOHA: Israel’s intelligence chief David Barnea has held talks with Qatari mediators in the latest effort for a ceasefire and captive release agreement for Gaza, almost nine months into the Hamas- Israel war.
AFP reported that said Mossad chief and his team had left Doha straight following the meetings on the latest Hamas ideas for a deal. However, no public statement was issued following the talks between the two sides.
Washington, which has worked alongside Egypt and Qatar in trying to broker an agreement, had talked up the importance of Israeli Prime Minister’s decision to send a delegation to Doha. Washington believes Hamas and Israel have a “pretty significant opening” to reach a deal, a senior official stated.
The Gaza war — which has raised fears of a broader conflagration involving Lebanon — started with Hamas’s October 7 surprise attack on Israel. Hamas also seized hostages, 116 of whom remain in the Gaza Strip including 42 the officials say are dead.
Israel has carried out a brutal military operation that has killed around 38,011 people in Gaza, Gaza health ministry said.
Since the war started, Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah has also exchanged near-daily cross-border fire with the Israel in support of Palestinians. The exchanges have intensified over the last month after Israel killed top Hezbollah commanders in targeted attack.
In a statement, Hamas said that its foreign relations head Khalil Al-Hayya had met Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah to coordinate their “resistance efforts” and the upcoming agreement negotiations.
