Moments after the arrival of the Israeli delegation in Doha, the "Wall Street Journal" reported yesterday (Monday) that mediators from Qatar and Egypt conveyed a message to Israel, according to which the current talks are the "last stage" in the negotiations with Hamas. According to them, if no agreement is reached, contacts will end definitively.
According to the report, Israeli officials estimated that the talks in Qatar would last at least two weeks, this against the background of wide gaps between the parties' positions regarding the deal. The sources also claimed that the communication difficulties with Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, would extend the time required for the talks. They claimed that every contact with Sinwar requires a waiting period of between 24 and 36 hours for the messages to be transmitted from Doha to Gaza and back.
As mentioned, the Israeli negotiating team landed in the Qatari capital of Doha yesterday, where they will hold meetings with Qatari and Egyptian mediators. According to the plan, the team will remain in Doha in the coming days for extensive talks, with the aim of reaching an agreement with Hamas that will lead to a hostage release.
Last night the political-security cabinet approved direct negotiations with the terrorist organization, with the two sides occupying adjacent rooms in the Doha hotel, and mediators moving from one room to another. An Israeli source told Channel 12 News that, "there is going to be a long and complex process here - the negotiations will be held directly with Sinwar. Even if there is Hamas leadership abroad, they have zero mandate to make decisions."
He also added that, "the offer that Israel received from Hamas is not good. Both sides will have to be flexible. There is a basis for negotiations. We are coming with a clear mandate. The picture is clear from the point of view of the negotiating teams. We have prepared a work plan including where Israel is willing to be flexible and where it is not."
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