The issue of hostage deal negotiations was discussed extensively during a meeting between Mossad director David Barnea and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in Doha, Qatar, on Thursday, an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post.
This follows a briefing earlier on Thursday, during which a senior Israeli official told reporters that “The Mossad chief conveyed the message that a partial deal is off the table and, beyond that, did not engage in negotiations but in Mossad-related matters.”
In recent days, Qatar and Egypt have been working on a framework for a deal that would include the release of all hostages and an end to the war. However, there is still the possibility of a partial agreement involving the release of 10 hostages in exchange for a two-month ceasefire.
Also present in Doha at the same time as Mossad chief Barnea was Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The Al-Hadath channel reported that the Turkish foreign minister was participating in talks with the Mossad chief in Doha.
Several senior Hamas officials are currently based in Turkey. Meanwhile, in Egypt, talks continued on Thursday between senior Hamas figures and top Egyptian officials.
Five principles to end the war
On Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement outlining Israel’s principles for ending the war: dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities; returning all hostages, both living and deceased; demilitarizing the Gaza Strip; not only disarming Hamas but also ensuring that no weapons are manufactured in or smuggled into the territory; maintaining Israeli security control in Gaza, including the security perimeter; and establishing an alternative civilian administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.
“These must be people who will not indoctrinate their children with terror, will not fund terror, and will not send terrorists,” Netanyahu said.
“These five principles will ensure Israel’s security. That is the meaning of the word ‘victory.’ This is what we are working toward – and everyone should internalize it.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who in recent days has been urging Netanyahu to commit to continuing the campaign even if a partial deal is reached, responded: “Mr. Prime Minister, these are correct and just principles. But you are missing one important – perhaps the most important – point: No pauses until victory!”
At the same time, initial talks have begun regarding the possibility of a visit to Israel next month by US President Donald Trump. A source familiar with the matter told the Post that, at this stage, there were “speculations and preliminary probes” for such a visit, potentially in mid-September, before Trump’s planned state visit to the United Kingdom.
“It’s not certain the visit will happen, and everything is in a very initial stage,” the source added.