The Israeli intelligence agency's delegation in Qatar has been ordered home because ceasefire negotiations with Hamas have "reached a dead end".
"Due to the deadlock in negotiations and on the instructions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Director of the Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations (Mossad) David Barnea has ordered the negotiating delegation in Doha, Qatar to return home," according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office on December 2.
The agency reiterated its accusation that Hamas "failed to fully implement its obligations" under the previous ceasefire agreement to release all women and children held hostage, whose names were on a list previously approved by the group.
Hamas gunmen hand over hostages to the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip on November 29. Photo: AFP
"The Mossad Director thanked the leadership of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Egyptian Central Intelligence Agency and the Prime Minister of Qatar for their cooperation and great mediation efforts that led to the release of 84 women and children, and 24 foreign nationals detained in the Gaza Strip," the statement said.
Earlier, some sources said that the Israeli delegation arrived in Qatar on the morning of December 2 to discuss further with Hamas representatives about the new ceasefire agreement. Israel wants Hamas to release more hostages, mostly elderly men, in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners.
Israel believes Hamas is still holding 136 hostages, including 114 men, 20 women and two children, at least 10 of whom are over 75 years old. 125 of the hostages are Israelis and 11 are foreign nationals, including eight Thais.
The Israel-Hamas ceasefire was initially in effect for four days, starting on November 24, and was extended twice, allowing the two sides to exchange hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid into the area.
Thanh Danh (According to Times of Israel )
Source link
Comment (0)