Mossad chief in Doha signals shift on hostage talks

Barnea's Doha visit underscores a push for a comprehensive ceasefire while regional mediators seek to restart negotiations.

Mossad chief in Doha hardens Israel stance on hostage talks

Mossad Director David Barnea traveled to Doha for talks with Qatar's leadership, a visit that Israeli officials described as separate from hostage deal discussions. Still, several Israeli sources indicated the meeting conveyed a clear message that Israel will not back a partial agreement and that progress on freeing hostages is essential before any broader steps. Channeling that stance, Barnea reportedly told the Qatari leadership that Israel is not bluffing about its plans in Gaza if talks stall.

In parallel, mediators in Cairo and Ankara remain maneuvering to revive a ceasefire framework. Egypt has pushed a 60 day pause with room for hostages and detainee releases, and a path to humanitarian aid, while Hamas officials have signaled a willingness to negotiate if Israel withdraws and withdraws control of the Gaza Strip. The discussions come amid a consensus in Jerusalem that only a comprehensive package could end the war, a position that has complicated talks led by the Witkoff framework and cooled prospects for a swift renewal of temporary truces.

The scene in Doha exposes a widening split between what regional mediators want and what Israel is prepared to accept. Qatar and Turkey have leveraged their ties to Hamas to press for a return to negotiations, while Egypt seeks a stopgap that could avert another Gaza flare up. Yet Israel’s insistence on a full demilitarization and the disarmament of Hamas makes a durable deal harder to reach and raises the risk of a longer war if talks collapse. For civilians in Gaza, the stakes are grim: aid flows remain uncertain, and any shift in military tempo could bring intensified fighting or another pause that only helps a few hostages while harming many more. The next moves will test whether regional diplomacy can outpace political realities inside Jerusalem and within Hamas.

Highlights

Diplomacy will be tested as regional players balance leverage with humanitarian concerns