Hopes for new Gaza truce talks as Israel envoy meets Qatar PM

A senior Israeli representative recently engaged in a meeting with the Prime Minister of Qatar, a significant intermediary in the Gaza conflict. Concurrently, sources from Egypt indicated that Israel might be more receptive to a new agreement with Hamas.

In a potential indication of progress, Israeli media outlets reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to assemble his security cabinet and deliver a televised address. However, Netanyahu's office did not immediately verify this. The Gaza war, instigated by an unexpected Hamas offensive in southern Israel on October 7, has unsettled regional and global powers due to the escalating Palestinian civilian casualties.

While Israel has committed to dismantling Hamas, it has also endeavored to retrieve hostages held by the Iranian-backed Islamist group. In late November, Israel entered into a week-long truce, facilitated by Qatar and Egypt. Under this truce, Hamas released over 100 women, children, and foreign nationals it had detained, in exchange for 240 Palestinian women and adolescents liberated from Israeli prisons. Israel's representation in these negotiations was its intelligence agency, Mossad. On Friday, Mossad's director, David Barnea, met with Qatar's Prime Minister in a European capital, according to an anonymous source. The same source stated that Barnea returned to Israel early on Saturday to brief Netanyahu.