Scoop: Mossad director visited Doha for Gaza deal talks
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Palestinian children play in the rubble of a building destroyed during a previous Israeli bombardment, in Khan Yunis in the south Gaza Strip, on Dec. 10, 2024. Photo: Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images
The director of the Israeli Mossad met with Qatar's prime minister in Doha on Wednesday for talks about a hostage-release and ceasefire in Gaza deal, according to two sources familiar with the visit.
Why it matters: The Mossad director's trip to Qatar was part of an effort to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas before the inauguration of President-elect Trump in January.
- David Barnea's visit comes after several months of deadlock in the negotiations and Qatar's decision to suspend its mediation efforts.
- The meeting is the second between the Mossad chief and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, following their meeting in Vienna in late November.
Driving the news: There are 100 hostages still being held in Gaza, including seven Americans. Israeli intelligence services believe roughly half of the hostages are still alive.
- Last week, Israel gave Hamas an updated proposal for a deal to release some of the remaining 100 hostages held by Hamas and begin a ceasefire in Gaza, two Israeli officials said.
- The updated framework is not significantly different from the proposal that was negotiated in August but didn't materialize. The focus now is on trying to implement mainly the first phase of that deal with some changes, Israeli officials said.
- The officials said Hamas has shown more willingness to be flexible and begin implementing even a partial deal.
- Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz told U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Wednesday that "there is a chance at the moment for a new deal that hopefully leads to the release of all hostages, including Americans."
Behind the scenes: Trump's national security adviser Mike Waltz met on Wednesday in Washington, DC with the families of the American hostages held in Gaza, according to a source familiar with the issue.
- It was the first time since the presidential election that a senior member of the incoming Trump administration met with the families of the American hostages.
- On Tuesday, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan met for the fifteenth time with the families and told them the Biden administration is working with Trump and his team to secure the safe release of all hostages.
- Biden and his advisers have been working closely with Trump's team in recent weeks to push for a deal that both leaders want before Biden's term ends and Trump takes office.
- Biden doesn't have much leverage over leaders in the region, but Trump's public demand for the release of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza puts pressure on Hamas, the Egyptian and Qatari mediators, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a deal.
What to watch: Sullivan is traveling to Israel, Egypt and Qatar this week in a last ditch effort to reach a deal before Trump's inauguration in less than six weeks.
- Two sources briefed about Sullivan's trip said he is planning to press the Israelis, Qataris and Egyptians to do what it takes to conclude the deal within days and start implementing it as soon as possible.
