PARIS – Hostage release talks between Israeli, American, Qatari, and Egyptian officials are underway in Paris.
Mossad Chief David Barnea, Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, and Hostage Affairs Coordinator Nitzan Alon, arrived earlier in the day and are currently meeting with CIA Chief Wiliam Burns, Egyptian Intelligence Head Abbas Kamel, and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed al-Thani at an undisclosed location.
According to some reports, Barnea is holding separate talks with Burns, Kamel, and al-Thani. A larger meeting should include also the other members of the delegations who arrived in Paris.
The Israeli delegation will return either Friday night or stay in Paris on Saturday, depending on the progress in the talks.
Obstacles in the current talks
For the moment, two main obstacles stand in the way of the new outline.
Israel and Hamas have repeatedly locked heads over the number of Palestinian security prisoners to be released for each hostage liberated.
In the November deal, Israel released three Palestinian prisoners for each hostage released, but the numbers now discussed are much higher. Also, for the last deal, the IDF suspended its military operations, including in the air, but did not withdraw its forces.
The second main obstacle in the talks is the condition set by Hamas that the IDF to pull out from the Gaza Strip; beginning with IDF troops stationed in the north.
France's involvement in the region
The meeting in Paris comes against the backdrop of increased contact between France and Middle East countries, primarily Qatar.
Qatari Defense Minister Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah was in Paris on Thursday, meeting with French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu. As a reminder, France was part of the initiative to deliver medicines to hostages held in Gaza. Qatar had issued earlier this week a statement saying the medicines have been delivered, but the French foreign ministry said it was not part to the delivery process in Gaza and had no further information on that. French authorities declined to say whether the issue was discussed between the two defense ministers.
Also, according to i24, Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad al-Thani, leader of Qatar, is expected in Paris for a state visit next week. Jordanian King Abdullah was in Paris on Feb. 15, after he visited the United States, and met with French President Macron at the Elysee Palace.