Senior officials from the US, Qatar, Egypt, and Israel are set to gather in Doha on Thursday for crucial talks aimed at finalizing a hostage release and ceasefire agreement for Gaza. This summit is pivotal in efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and avert a potential regional conflict, especially given recent threats from Iran and Hezbollah following the assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in Tehran and Beirut.
According to Axios, President Biden views the agreement as essential to reducing the risk of a broader regional war. CIA Director Bill Burns and President Biden’s top Middle East adviser Brett McGurk will join the meeting, alongside Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani, Mossad Director David Barnea, and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participated in extensive discussions on Wednesday with key officials and heads of Israel’s security and intelligence services. These discussions lasted over five hours and focused on strategies for the Doha talks.
Two senior Israeli officials revealed that Netanyahu agreed to slightly expand the mandate given to Israeli negotiators, a move aimed at facilitating more meaningful discussions. While this new flexibility is intended to enhance negotiation prospects, it remains uncertain if it will be sufficient to achieve a final agreement.
Despite Qatar’s assurances to the White House and State Department that Hamas will be included in the discussions, Hamas officials have stated they will not directly participate. However, they are open to meeting with mediators afterward to review Israel’s proposals.
A source close to the negotiations mentioned that Hamas representatives in Doha would not attend the talks but are willing to evaluate Israel’s proposals through mediators. “The mediators will update Hamas representatives and assess whether Israel presents a serious and practical proposal,” the source noted.
During the Wednesday meeting, Israeli security and intelligence heads warned Netanyahu that delays could jeopardize hostage lives, stressing the urgency of reaching an agreement. They also reported Hamas’s claim that one male hostage had been killed and two female hostages critically wounded, though Israeli intelligence has yet to confirm these claims.
One key discussion point was the potential connection between a hostage deal and a ceasefire in Gaza, alongside the risk of retaliation from Iran and Hezbollah. The White House has been actively involved in monitoring the situation, with President Biden and Vice President Harris receiving briefings on ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized to his Egyptian and Qatari counterparts the importance of regional cooperation. “No party in the region should take actions that would undermine efforts to reach a deal,” Blinken stated.
According to Axios, President Biden views the agreement as essential to reducing the risk of a broader regional war. CIA Director Bill Burns and President Biden’s top Middle East adviser Brett McGurk will join the meeting, alongside Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani, Mossad Director David Barnea, and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participated in extensive discussions on Wednesday with key officials and heads of Israel’s security and intelligence services. These discussions lasted over five hours and focused on strategies for the Doha talks.
Two senior Israeli officials revealed that Netanyahu agreed to slightly expand the mandate given to Israeli negotiators, a move aimed at facilitating more meaningful discussions. While this new flexibility is intended to enhance negotiation prospects, it remains uncertain if it will be sufficient to achieve a final agreement.
Despite Qatar’s assurances to the White House and State Department that Hamas will be included in the discussions, Hamas officials have stated they will not directly participate. However, they are open to meeting with mediators afterward to review Israel’s proposals.
A source close to the negotiations mentioned that Hamas representatives in Doha would not attend the talks but are willing to evaluate Israel’s proposals through mediators. “The mediators will update Hamas representatives and assess whether Israel presents a serious and practical proposal,” the source noted.
During the Wednesday meeting, Israeli security and intelligence heads warned Netanyahu that delays could jeopardize hostage lives, stressing the urgency of reaching an agreement. They also reported Hamas’s claim that one male hostage had been killed and two female hostages critically wounded, though Israeli intelligence has yet to confirm these claims.
One key discussion point was the potential connection between a hostage deal and a ceasefire in Gaza, alongside the risk of retaliation from Iran and Hezbollah. The White House has been actively involved in monitoring the situation, with President Biden and Vice President Harris receiving briefings on ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized to his Egyptian and Qatari counterparts the importance of regional cooperation. “No party in the region should take actions that would undermine efforts to reach a deal,” Blinken stated.