Israel to lead new ceasefire talks as humanitarian crisis continues
The head of Israel’s intelligence service will lead ceasefire talks in Qatar on Sunday after a fresh proposal from Hamas, it has emerged.
Talks between Mossad head David Barnea, Qatar’s prime minister and Egyptian officials will focus on closing the remaining gaps between Israel and Hamas over the release of prisoners and the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, a source close to the negotiations told Reuters.
Israel said on Friday that it would be sending a delegation Doha but had not specified when it would do so or who would take part.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to convene the security cabinet before the talks. He had previously described the Hamas proposals as “unrealistic”.
Separately, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said one in three children under the age of 2 in northern Gaza is now acutely malnourished amid growing pressure on Israel over looming famine in the embattled enclave.
Hamas has always insisted on a permanent ceasefire but it has been reported the latest offer is for an initial temporary ceasefire of possibly six-weeks with further talks to extend it.
The proposal to mediators and the United States also includes the release of Israeli hostages, women, children, elderly and wounded, in exchange for freedom for Palestinian prisoners, delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave.
Mr Netanyahu said on Thursday that Qatar is leaning heavily on Hamas in the negotiations, reportedly threatening to expel senior Hamas officials from Doha and freeze Hamas bank accounts.
Repeated efforts to agree a ceasefire and exchange hostages for prisoners have fallen apart this year, despite mounting international pressure over the human cost of Israel’s ground and air assault on Gaza.
Mediators had hoped to secure a six-week truce before Ramadan started earlier this week but this was thwarted.
Mossad’s Mr Barnea has been involved in previous attempts to reach a deal between Israel and Hamas.
A short-lived truce in November was agreed and came into effect after his participation in talks in Doha.
His last meeting with Qatar’s prime minister in January led to a proposal for a temporary ceasefire which Hamas ultimately rejected.
And last month, he met in Paris with mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the US to try and draw up a deal for a ceasefire.
Israeli officials have not commented on the latest reported development.
The war began on 7 October when Hamas sent fighters into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and seizing 253 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
The Israeli military response targeting Gaza has killed more than 31,500 Palestinians, about 70 per cent of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
