Israeli Intelligence Boss Visits Egypt Ahead Of Further Negotiations On Gaza's Armistice

JAKARTA - Israel's Mossad intelligence boss David Barnea visited Cairo on Thursday and met with the Head of the Egyptian Intelligence Service Hassan Mahmoud Rashad ahead of his trip to Doha, Qatar, to revive ceasefire and and andera release negotiations in Gaza.

The Egyptian delegation also met with a delegation of Hamas leaders in Cairo to discuss the situation in Gaza and look for ways to overcome obstacles that hinder calm in the region, the Egyptian government-affiliated Al-Qahera News TV reported citing sources as reported by CNN, Friday, October 25.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed Barnea to attend talks in Doha.

Furthermore, the head of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad will travel to Doha, Qatar on Sunday to try to restart negotiations on the agreement to release Israeli hostages detained in the Gaza Strip.

Mossad chief David Barnea will meet CIA Director William Burns and Qatar prime minister, Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu said.

"The parties will discuss various options to initiate negotiations regarding the release of hostages from Hamas detainees, with the latest developments," he said.

Qatar resumed talks with political bureau Hamas in Doha following the assassination of leader of the group Yahya Sinwar in Gaza last week.

"We have held several meetings with them in recent days; I believe that there is no clarity on what will happen in the future," said Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

Hamas' position according to Al Thani regarding the ceasefire and hostage-taking has not changed since the last meditation effort.

Last week, senior Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya said the hostages would only be released if the war in Gaza ended, Israeli forces withdrew from the enclave and Palestinian prisoners were released.

The main charge charge was filed with mediator several times over the past year which was rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Al Thani said the Hamas delegation was in Egypt today for ongoing discussions.

Teams of negotiators from the United States and Israel will visit Doha for new efforts to reach the Gaza deal.

"The way to achieve a breakthrough in this negotiation will be explored," Al Thani said at a press conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

"The pressure from our side will continue on all parties to reach an agreement to end the war; that's a priority for us," he said.