Israel Steps Up Gaza Talks, Hinting At Progress On Truce
While the development may signal progress, there’s been no formal pause in fighting since November 2023.
Top Israeli negotiators will join Qatari-hosted talks on a proposed Gaza truce and hostage release by Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.
The inclusion of Mossad chief David Barnea, Shin Bet domestic security chief Ronen Bar, General Nitzan Alon and Netanyahu adviser Ophir Falk represents an upgrade of the working-level delegation already in Doha.
While the development may signal progress, there’s been no formal pause in fighting since November 2023.
The senior delegation is due to depart Saturday evening, according to an official in Netanyahu’s office.
The Qatari- and Egyptian-mediated talks have been energized by the imminent change in US administrations. Alongside current US officials, an envoy of President-elect Donald Trump has sought to shepherd the indirect diplomacy along.
The envoy, Steve Witkoff, met Netanyahu in Israel on Saturday, the prime minister’s office said.
Israel has threatened to escalate the war further and achieve a “total defeat” of Hamas if there is no deal by the time Trump takes office on Jan 20.
Israel is trying to recover 98 hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas, whose cross-border kidnapping and killing rampage sparked a multi-front war.
A deal has proven elusive. A main sticking point is that Hamas has insisted that Israel end the war and withdraw forces from Gaza, while Netanyahu has said Israel would resume the offensive to topple Hamas after any truce expires.
