Negotiations between Israel and Hamas Hits An Impasse As Agents Leave Qatar (Image: X.com/IsraeliPM)Qatar witnessed an impasse in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas for the renewal of a ceasefire. The Mossad Agents who were negotiating the renewal of ceasefire left the country on Saturday.
In a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office on Saturday night, David Barnea, Mossad Chief called back his team to Israel from Doha. It read, “due to the impasse in negotiations and following instructions from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mossad chief David Barnea ordered his team in Doha to return to Israel,” the ET reported.
It said that, “the Hamas terror group did not fulfill its obligations under the agreement, including releasing all the women and children in accordance with a list provided to Hamas and approved by it.”
The statement also contained a note of thanks for the other parties involved in the negotiations, for the many roles and efforts they put in. It said that, “[Barnea] thanks the head of the CIA, Egypt’s intelligence minister and the prime minister of Qatar for their partnership in the tremendous mediation efforts that led to the release of 84 women and children from Gaza, in addition to 24 foreign nationals.”
On Friday morning, the IDF again began combat in Gaza. This came after a week-long ceasefire which was broken by Hamas when rockets were fired at the Jewish state by them.
In order to secure the release of more hostages who have been held by the Hamas terrorists in Gaza, the Mossad Chief has taken repeated trips to Doha. With the renewed combat operations, the government of Israel said that they stood strong on bringing back all the hostages. As per the latest numbers, a total of 137 people remains hostages. Among this, there are 20 women and 117 men. The hostages include 11 foreigners and 126 Israelis, the ET reported.
The release and return of women and children have been prioritised by Israel. There are two captives who are under the age of 18, the nine-month-old Kfir Bibas and Ariel, who is Kfir’s four-year-old brother. Hamas has deliberately kept families separated.
Though the Hamas have said that the two Bibas children, along with their mother are dead, hey have not given any proof for this. The reports on media in Israel have speculated on this, saying that Hamas could be trying to get more concessions in the case of the children who are remaining as hostages or could be that, Hamas does not want the hostages to speak publicly on how they were treated.
On Thursday, the only minor hostages who were released were Aisha Ziyadne of 17 years and Bilal, her 18-year-old brother who are from Rahat’s Bedouin community. Their 25-year-old brother and their father are still kept hostages. The hostages include eleven foreigners and another ten people who are above the age of 75.
Earlier, during the seven-day ceasefire, both the parties released hostages. 105 people who were in captivity were released. Among them were 81 Israelis and 24 foreign nationals. As an exchange, Israel released Palestinian prisoners – 210 women or minors and also allowed food, water, medicines and fuel into Gaza
In the Hamas combat operations on Israeli communities that lie near the border of Gaza, at least 1,200 people have been killed on October 7. Israeli authorities are still identifying the bodies and searching for human remains, leaving some people as unaccounted for.