Progress marks peace talks between Israel and Hamas - CNN
David Barnea, Director of the Israeli intelligence service Mossad (photo: Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90/timesofisrael.com)
During talks in Doha, members of the Israeli delegation expressed cautious optimism regarding the prospects of an agreement with Hamas on a ceasefire and the release of hostages. However, despite this, there are still some differences between the two sides, reports CNN.
A high-ranking Israeli delegation, including the head of Israel's intelligence agency Mossad, David Barnea, arrived in Doha after clear signs of progress emerged in talks about the release of hostages and a ceasefire.
According to a CNN source, there is an understanding between the two sides regarding the Philadelphi Corridor - a narrow strip of land along the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip - as well as the presence of the Israel Defense Forces in the Gaza Strip and the wording related to the end of the war.
Israel has long demanded that its forces remain along the Philadelphi Corridor, while Hamas insists on their withdrawal. Disagreements over this narrow but strategically important piece of land were a key reason for the failure of previous talks in August 2024.
The source also noted that there are still disagreements between Hamas's leadership in Gaza and the group's leadership abroad.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who met with US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on Saturday, is facing pressure from both the current and incoming US administrations to reach an agreement by January 20.
Despite this pressure, the CNN source stated that the decision to send a high-level delegation to Doha for negotiations was made because most of the parties involved genuinely wanted to reach an agreement. The conditions for this are already in place. "American pressure had little to do with it," the source asserted.
However, the pressure from the US is clearly felt within the Israeli government, an Israeli official admitted in an interview with CNN on Saturday.
The Israeli delegation also includes Nitzan Alon, the head of the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) hostages unit, and Ronen Bar, the head of Israel’s Shin Bet security agency.
The Hostage Families Forum welcomed the decision to send the Israeli delegation to the talks in Doha, calling it a historic opportunity to secure the release of all our loved ones.
Israel-Hamas war
Israel launched a military operation in the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. During the terrorist invasion, more than 1,200 people were killed, and 251 were taken hostage.
In November 2023, dozens of hostages were released as part of a short-term deal, hostages for a ceasefire. However, the Israeli government believes that 98 hostages are still being held in Gaza - almost all of them were captured on October 7, 2023, and dozens of them are considered dead.
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire and hostage release have been stalled for several months, despite efforts by US President Joe Biden, who is stepping down.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump warned that all hell will break loose if the hostages are not released by his inauguration on January 20.
At the end of last year, Israel and Hamas accused each other of delaying the peace agreement.
It has also emerged that Palestinian terrorists have tortured the hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
