DOHA: Israel’s Mossad chief, David Barnea, has departed Doha, but negotiations concerning a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages are continuing in Qatar’s capital, a senior Qatari official confirmed on Tuesday.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari disclosed during a regular briefing that Barnea had left Doha, while highlighting that “technical teams are meeting as we speak.”
Barnea had engaged in discussions with the Qatari premier and Egyptian officials on Monday, marking the first dialogue since mediators encountered setbacks in securing a truce ahead of the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan last week.
The ongoing talks are now focusing on the intricate details of a potential agreement following discussions among the principal negotiators on the primary issues, Ansari stated.
“We are at the point now where we are expecting that the counter-proposal would be presented to the Palestinian resistance group Hamas, but this is not the final step in the process,” Ansari remarked.
He cautioned against premature optimism, noting, “I don’t think we are at a moment where we can say we are close to a deal. We are cautiously optimistic because talks have resumed, but it’s too early to announce any successes.”
On Monday, a Hamas official indicated a willingness to accept a partial Israeli withdrawal before proceeding with the exchange of prisoners, signaling a departure from previous demands for a complete withdrawal from Gaza.
Over 31,800 Palestinians Killed in Gaza
Since October 7, Israel has launched a relentless offensive against Palestinians in Gaza, resulting in significant casualties. The territory’s health ministry reports that more than 31,800 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in the ongoing Israeli attacks.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need for increased humanitarian aid delivery to the Palestinian territory.
According to Blinken, the entire population of Gaza is facing “severe levels of acute food insecurity,” marking the first time an entire population has been classified as such. This alarming assessment underscores the critical need for immediate action to address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
A recent United Nations-backed food security assessment revealed that half of Gaza’s population is experiencing “catastrophic” hunger, with famine projected to affect the northern region by May if urgent intervention is not implemented.
Martin Griffiths, the UN’s humanitarian chief, has called on Israel to allow unrestricted aid into Gaza, emphasizing the pressing nature of the situation and the need for swift action.
