The choice of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the delegation participating in the Doha negotiations regarding a ceasefire in Gaza and hostage exchange has ignited significant debate within Israel. Netanyahu sent his close advisor Ofir Falk, and the head of the Mossad intelligence agency, David Barnea, to the talks in Qatar on Friday.
Notably absent from the delegation were the head of the Internal Security Service (Shin Bet), Ronen Bar, and the reserve general in the Israeli army responsible for hostage affairs, Nitzan Alon. The delegation also did not include representatives from the Israeli army or Shin Bet.
A senior Israeli official stated, "Falk has no role in the negotiations themselves, and Netanyahu sent him due to the doubts he holds about the members of the negotiation team." In a previous round of negotiations in Cairo, the negotiation team members rejected the inclusion of Falk in the meetings.
Netanyahu decided to send the heads of both the Mossad and Shin Bet to meet with the Qatari Prime Minister in Doha, following a meeting held before the cabinet meeting on Thursday, which excluded Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Alon.
