Israel’s negotiating team is expected in Doha on Monday after the security cabinet is said to have approved on Sunday night the dispatch of the delegation to Qatar for indirect talks about a temporary truce in Gaza and a hostage release.
The delegation, led by Mossad director David Barnea, received a “general mandate” to conduct negotiations via Qatari and Egyptian mediators, Walla reported Sunday night, citing a senior Israeli official. Some of the issues related to the negotiations will need to be weighed and approved separately by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, the report said.
Ynet reported that the negotiating team asked for “a significant amount of time to conduct the negotiations so that it would be possible to improve the deal, and to deliver an outline that we can stand behind.”
An Israeli official cited by Ynet said: “We need to change the deal, it is important that we arrive with significant flexibility.”
A source told Reuters that the Qatar discussions will cover the remaining gaps between Israel and Hamas, including the number of Palestinian prisoners who could potentially be released in exchange for the remaining Israeli hostages, as well as humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The expected talks on Monday would mark the first time both Israeli officials and Hamas leaders join the indirect negotiations since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan last week. Mediators had hoped to secure a six-week truce before then, but Hamas refused any deal that wouldn’t lead to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, a demand Israel flatly rejects.
Over the past week, however, both sides have made moves aimed at getting the talks, which never fully broke off, back on track.
Hamas late last week gave mediators a new proposal for a three-stage plan that would end the fighting, according to two Egyptian officials, one who is involved in the talks and a second who was briefed on them.
Israel’s negotiating team is expected in Doha on Monday after the security cabinet is said to have approved on Sunday night the dispatch of the delegation to Qatar for indirect talks about a temporary truce in Gaza and a hostage release.
The delegation, led by Mossad director David Barnea, received a “general mandate” to conduct negotiations via Qatari and Egyptian mediators, Walla reported Sunday night, citing a senior Israeli official. Some of the issues related to the negotiations will need to be weighed and approved separately by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, the report said.
Ynet reported that the negotiating team asked for “a significant amount of time to conduct the negotiations so that it would be possible to improve the deal, and to deliver an outline that we can stand behind.”
00:52An Israeli official cited by Ynet said: “We need to change the deal, it is important that we arrive with significant flexibility.”
A source told Reuters that the Qatar discussions will cover the remaining gaps between Israel and Hamas, including the number of Palestinian prisoners who could potentially be released in exchange for the remaining Israeli hostages, as well as humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The expected talks on Monday would mark the first time both Israeli officials and Hamas leaders join the indirect negotiations since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan last week. Mediators had hoped to secure a six-week truce before then, but Hamas refused any deal that wouldn’t lead to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, a demand Israel flatly rejects. (The Times of Israel)
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