Majid bin Mohammed al-Ansari, spokesperson for the Qatari foreign ministry, stated that there have been no breakthroughs in the ongoing discussions between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas aimed at resolving the crisis in the Gaza Strip.
"At present, there have been meetings between the technical teams, during which various details were discussed. However, it is premature to speak of any success or breakthrough. Nonetheless, there is a sense of optimism as negotiations have resumed," he remarked during a briefing in Doha. These comments were broadcasted by Al Jazeera.
According to the spokesperson, David Barnea, the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence service, delivered Israel's response to the Hamas proposal during his visit to the Qatari capital. Al-Ansari clarified that while discussions have progressed to addressing technical aspects, this does not imply an imminent conclusion to the negotiations.
Touching upon Israel's planned operation in Rafah, situated in the southern Gaza Strip, the Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson emphasized that "any assault on Rafah would impede reaching an agreement." He further stated, "Such actions would exacerbate the situation and cannot be justified by any tactical considerations," underscoring the challenges to the success of the peace initiative under such circumstances.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disclosed on March 15 that Israel had turned down a proposal presented by Hamas outlining the terms of a prospective deal, which would entail the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for a ceasefire in the enclave. On the same day, the prime minister's office elucidated Israel's intention to persist with the negotiation process by dispatching a delegation to Doha.
Israel's Kan radio reported that Barnea engaged in discussions with Qatari and Egyptian mediators in Doha on Tuesday night and returned for "further consultations" on the morning of March 19. It was noted that a negotiating team, comprising representatives from Mossad, the General Security Service (Shabak), and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), among others, remained in Doha.
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Based on materials from TASS