Israeli Delegation Set to Visit Qatar for Hostage Negotiations with Hamas
Click to start listening
Jerusalem, Jan 12 (NationPress) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed a senior delegation to head to Doha, the capital of Qatar, to further negotiations with Hamas aimed at securing the release of Israeli hostages detained in the Gaza Strip.
A statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office on Saturday indicated that this directive followed a thorough assessment of the situation that Netanyahu conducted on Saturday evening with Defence Minister Israel Katz and US negotiators from both the outgoing and incoming administrations.
The Israeli delegation comprises David Barnea, the head of the Israeli Mossad intelligence agency, along with Ronen Bar, the chief of the Shin Bet internal security service, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
On January 10, Israel Katz instructed the military to devise a strategy for the total defeat of Hamas if a hostage release agreement is not finalized by January 20.
Katz emphasized that should Hamas fail to release the hostages before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, a plan for the comprehensive defeat of Hamas in Gaza would be activated.
He tasked the military with identifying potential hindrances to executing this plan, including humanitarian concerns and other issues, enabling political leaders to make the necessary decisions.
Katz made this directive during a security assessment meeting on Thursday with Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.
He advocated for delivering a decisive blow to Hamas rather than engaging in a prolonged war of attrition.
Katz stated that the complete defeat of Hamas should be pursued independently of post-war reconstruction plans for Gaza. He noted that any political resolution is irrelevant to the current plan and actions required, as no Arab or other entities would take responsibility for managing civilian life in Gaza until Hamas is entirely dismantled.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has escalated since Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities and around 250 hostages taken.
Indirect peace discussions between Israel and Hamas have been intermittent over recent months, with Qatar, Egypt, and the United States serving as principal mediators.
In recent weeks, the indirect negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner exchange agreement have gained significant momentum.
