Israel’s intelligence chief will reportedly chair ceasefire talks in Qatar on Sunday following a new proposal from Hamas.
A source with knowledge of the negotiations said talks between Mossad chief David Bania, Qatar’s prime minister and Egyptian officials will focus on narrowing the gap between Israel and Hamas over the release of prisoners and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Remaining differences on aid. Reuters.
Israel said on Friday it would send a delegation to Doha, but did not specify when or who would participate.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to hold a security cabinet meeting ahead of the talks. He has previously described Hamas’ proposals as “unrealistic.”
Hamas has insisted on a permanent ceasefire, but the latest proposal is reportedly for an initial temporary ceasefire, possibly for six weeks, with further negotiations to extend it.
The offer to mediators and the United States also included the release of Israeli hostages, women, children, the elderly and the wounded in exchange for the freedom of Palestinian prisoners, humanitarian aid to Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the enclave.
Netanyahu said on Thursday that Qatar relied heavily on Hamas in negotiations and reportedly threatened to expel senior Hamas officials from Doha and freeze Hamas bank accounts.
Multiple efforts this year to reach a ceasefire and exchange prisoner hostages have failed despite mounting international pressure over the toll of Israeli ground and air attacks on Gaza.
Mediators had hoped to reach a six-week truce before the start of Ramadan earlier this week, but that plan was thwarted.
Mossad’s Baniya has previously been involved in efforts to reach a deal between Israel and Hamas.
In November, a short-lived truce was reached and came into effect after he attended the Doha talks.
His last meeting with Qatar’s prime minister in January proposed a temporary ceasefire, which Hamas ultimately rejected.
Last month, he met with mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the United States in Paris to try to reach a ceasefire.
Israeli officials have yet to comment on the latest reported developments.
The war began on October 7, when Hamas sent armed men into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 253 hostages, according to Israeli data.
Israel’s military response in Gaza has killed more than 31,500 Palestinians, about 70 percent of whom were women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
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