Mossad chief seeks hostage deal in Doha meeting with Qatari PM

Mossad (the Israeli national intelligence agency) chief David Barnea arrived in Doha on April 24 for talks with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Thani concerning a potential hostage deal.

Barnea, who was excluded from the official Israeli negotiation team by Prime Minister Netanyahu, is meeting directly with Al-Thani despite opposition from the Israeli government’s lead negotiator, Minister Ron Dermer, to engage in direct discussions with Qatar, Caliber.Az reports via Israeli media.

Sources familiar with the negotiations said that no major progress has been made thus far, casting uncertainty on the immediate prospects for a resolution. The lack of significant breakthroughs suggests that the deal may not advance quickly. Palestinian sources also revealed that Egypt, in coordination with Qatar, is expected to propose a new cease-fire plan by the end of this week.

The plan, they say, seeks to bridge the gaps between Israeli and Hamas demands and includes key components such as an immediate cease-fire, the release of all hostages in one stage, the withdrawal of IDF forces, the lifting of the Gaza blockade, the launch of reconstruction efforts, and a Hamas commitment to a five to seven-year truce. Despite Egypt's ongoing mediation efforts, Hamas and other Palestinian factions are growing frustrated. 

They accuse Israel of lacking genuine intent to end the conflict. A Palestinian source close to the talks said, "Israel is intensifying its attacks on civilians, maintaining the siege on Gaza, using starvation as a weapon, dragging its feet, and avoiding meaningful decisions in the cease-fire negotiations." The source also expressed concern that Israel's actions indicate no real intention to cease hostilities. Reports about internal Israeli debates on aid distribution further fuel these concerns. 

As diplomatic efforts continue, sources suggest that Hamas and mediators are hopeful that US President Donald Trump’s upcoming trips to Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia in May could help push the negotiations forward. Trump is seen as a key figure capable of applying significant pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, with one source noting that Trump could exert more influence on Netanyahu "than any other actor on the international stage."

By Naila Huseynova