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Israeli delegation heading to Doha to continue hostage talks

Negotiations will resume in the Qatari capital after several days of talks in Cairo on a Gaza ceasefire agreement.

A protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and for a deal to release Israelis held hostage in Gaza, near the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, Aug. 10, 2024. Photo by Miriam Alster/Flash90.
A protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and for a deal to release Israelis held hostage in Gaza, near the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, Aug. 10, 2024. Photo by Miriam Alster/Flash90.

An Israeli delegation will head to Doha, Qatar on Wednesday to continue talks on a Gaza ceasefire agreement, according to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.

The delegation, comprising officials from the Israel Defense Forces, Mossad and Israel Security Agency, returned on Tuesday from a round of negotiations in Cairo.

The high-level Cairo talks ended on Sunday without a deal, but discussions continued on Monday with lower-level officials to attempt to bridge the remaining gaps.

“In Doha, the delegation is expected to meet with representatives of Egypt, Qatar and the United States who are continuing the negotiations and work with Israel and Hamas,” according to Israel’s Channel 12.

U.S. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Brett McGurk held talks on Tuesday in Doha with senior Qatari leaders ahead of Wednesday’s negotiations, the Associated Press reported, citing a U.S. official.

According to the Channel 12 report, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held several discussions about the deal in recent days before and after the Cairo talks, with the participation of Mossad chief David Barnea. ISA chief Ronen Bar participated in some of the meetings, according to the report, but Defense Minister Yoav Galant, IDF Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Herzi Halevi and Maj. Gen. (ret.) Nitzan Alon, head of the IDF’s Missing and Captive Soldiers Division, were not present.

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