An Israeli delegation led by Mossad Director David Barnea has departed from Doha after a day of talks with Hamas, facilitated by Qatari and Egyptian mediators. While no breakthrough was achieved during this initial meeting, mediators remain hopeful for progress following weeks of deadlock.
The talks in Doha mark the first high-level discussions between Israel and Hamas in months. Despite facing challenges, the visit by the Mossad chief has been viewed positively by mediators, who express cautious optimism about the resumption of dialogue.
According to Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed Al-Ansari, the discussions are ongoing, with technical teams focusing on the details of a proposed three-phase plan. Currently, negotiations are centered on a six-week pause, with plans to present a counterproposal to Hamas in the near future.
Since the previous ceasefire in November, both Hamas and Israel have rejected multiple proposals, leading to several deadlocks in negotiations. Israel's refusal to attend a mediation meeting in Egypt earlier this month and Hamas' delayed responses have added complexity to the talks.
If an agreement is reached, it is expected to involve multiple phases to address various issues between the two parties. Qatar has emphasized that the ongoing talks in Doha are separate from discussions related to the release of hostages and a potential humanitarian pause in the context of upcoming US-Israel discussions on a Rafah operation.
However, Al-Ansari cautioned that any escalation in the Rafah region could significantly impact the progress of the talks. Despite the challenges, mediators remain committed to facilitating dialogue and finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
