Mossad chief arrived in Qatar for talks on ceasefire in Gaza Strip
Mossad Chief David Barnea (photo: flickr.com)
Mossad Director David Barnea has flown to Qatar to discuss with Western partners the potential ceasefire and release of hostages in the Gaza Strip. Progress has been noted in the negotiations, but it is premature to speak of a breakthrough, according to The Times of Israel.
In the capital of Qatar, Doha, Barnea will meet with CIA director William Burns, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Egypt’s intelligence head Abbas Kamel.
On Friday, another round of negotiations on the release of hostages took place. A senior Israeli official reported that there is progress in the negotiations, but there is no breakthrough yet. According to Channel 12, the US is putting pressure on intermediaries - Egypt and Qatar - to accelerate the negotiations.
On Thursday in Cairo, Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to discuss ideas for the future of the Gaza Strip. Also present at the meeting was a senior official of the Palestine Liberation Organization, an internationally recognized body representing the Palestinian people.
In addition to the region's future, the ministers discussed ceasefire negotiations and efforts to deliver urgent humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip by land, air, and sea, as well as efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on a two-state solution.
During a previous meeting with Blinken, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi emphasized the need for an immediate ceasefire and warned of the dangerous consequences of Israel's planned offensive against Hamas in Rafah.
Both sides reiterated their rejection of the forced displacement of Gaza residents and agreed on the importance of taking all necessary measures to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
They also discussed the creation of an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel.
On Friday, March 22, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel, where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his security cabinet.
Israel-Hamas war
On October 7, 2023, the Hamas group attacked Israel. In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a ground military operation in the Gaza Strip, which continues to this day. The country's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that the operation's goal is the destruction of Hamas and the release of hostages.
In early February, he also announced the readiness of the IDF to begin a ground invasion towards the city of Rafah, located in the southern part of the Gaza Strip near the border with Egypt.
On March 12, a Hamas representative announced that the group was adopting a modified version of the US proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza. However, the next day, the Israeli Defense Forces struck the food distribution center in the eastern part of Rafah.
On March 18, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved the departure of an Israeli negotiating delegation to Doha, Qatar, for talks on a temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages.
On Friday, March 22, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel, where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his security cabinet.
