Israel and Hamas on Wednesday considered the parameters of a new phase of a Gaza cease-fire deal that could potentially include Hamas releasing male or military hostages, not just women and children, sources briefed on the talks said.
Leaders of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Israel’s Mossad met Qatar’s prime minister in Doha on Tuesday to discuss possible new phases and what it might take to achieve a ceasefire lasting more than a few days, the source told Reuters.
Qatari negotiators had met with Hamas officials ahead of the meeting to gauge their willingness to agree to the new parameters.
The outcome of the talks between Qatar and Hamas is unclear.
CIA Director William Burns was in Doha “for meetings on the Israel-Hamas conflict including discussions on hostages”, a US official said on condition of anonymity. The official did not elaborate.
Some of the newly freed hostages were escorted to a van operated by the Red Cross on Tuesday, Nov. 28. 2023. UPI/Shutterstock Qatar foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari speaks during the ministry’s weekly briefing in Doha, Qatar on Nov. 28. , 2023. REUTERS
Burns, David Barnea, the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence service, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met with Egyptian officials a day after Qatar announced a two-day extension of the original four-day ceasefire agreement in Gaza that was set to expire overnight Monday.
Qatar, where several Hamas political leaders are based, has led talks between the Palestinian terror group and Israel.
The ceasefire has brought the first reprieve in the Gaza Strip in seven weeks where Israel has bombed the territory heavily in response to a violent rampage on October 7 by Hamas gunmen that killed some 1,200 people and captured 240 prisoners.
Mia Leimberg and her dog are escorted by Hamas terrorists as she is handed over to members of the International Committee of the Red Cross November 28, 2023. via REUTERS An Israeli soldier operates in the Gaza Strip during a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas November 29, 2023. via REUTERS
Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, which rules Gaza. Health authorities in Gaza say Israeli bombardment of the small, densely populated enclave has so far killed more than 15,000 people, about 40% of them children.
Barnea and Burns were previously in Qatar to meet Sheikh Mohammed on Nov. 9.
During the first four days of the ceasefire, Hamas fighters freed 50 Israeli women and children who had been held hostage.
In return, Israel released 150 security detainees from its prisons, all women and teenagers.
Hamas terrorists escort newly freed hostages before handing them over to the Red Cross in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on November 28, 2023. UPI/Shutterstock Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, which rules Gaza. Health authorities in Gaza say Israeli bombardment of the small, densely populated enclave has so far killed more than 15,000 people, about 40% of them children. via REUTERS
As part of the two-day extension of the ceasefire, Hamas has agreed to release an additional 10 Israeli women and children per day.
So far, there are no signs that Hamas is ready to release any of the men or Israeli soldiers among those captured.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
