Israeli Mossad chief David Barnea met with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in Doha on Wednesday to discuss a potential deal. This meeting is part of a renewed mediation effort after months of deadlock.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated in a phone call on Wednesday with his US counterpart Lloyd Austin that a new agreement could allow for the release of all hostages, including US citizens. However, Western diplomats believe that any agreement would likely be limited to a temporary ceasefire and the release of a few captives.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior officials in Jerusalem, in what appears to be the Biden administration's final push for a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas.
Photos released by the Prime Minister’s Office show Sullivan meeting with top ministers, as well as defense officials, including Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, Mossad director David Barnea, and the government’s hostage coordinator, Gal Hirsch.
After meetings in Israel, Sullivan is set to travel to Qatar and Egypt—the two Arab countries mediating between Israel and Hamas alongside the US.
In addition, President-elect Donald Trump has publicly demanded the release of all hostages before taking office in January, warning Hamas of severe consequences. His team, including Special Envoy Adam Boehler, is working with the Biden administration to accelerate the resolution of the crisis.
Currently, 100 hostages remain held in Gaza, including seven US citizens. In a sign of openness, Hamas has provided mediators with a list of hostages it is willing to release as part of a ceasefire, a first since the escalation of the conflict in October 2023.
Despite reported progress, significant obstacles remain. Given the failure of previous agreements, observers urge caution due to the challenges involved in establishing a ceasefire in such a tense context.
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