A secret visit by an Israeli delegation to Qatar was revealed today, Thursday, to discuss disagreements concerning the initial terms of the anticipated deal for the return of hostages. According to information from the website Elaph, the discussions were marked by a positive spirit, and it was noted that maintaining confidentiality is crucial for reaching an understanding.
The discussions focused on contentious points, including the number of Palestinians in Israeli prisons who would be released and the living Israeli hostages who would be freed. Other reports on Thursday suggested that officials in the Biden administration have expressed increasing doubts about Israel and Hamas's ability to reach a comprehensive ceasefire agreement under the current framework, according to four American officials familiar with the negotiations.
The Wall Street Journal also reported on Thursday that, according to estimates from negotiators and US intelligence officials, the number of living hostages in the Gaza Strip is approximately 50, which is lower than previous expectations. The official broadcasting authority reported that the United States has communicated to Israel a message indicating that Qatar is moving towards imposing sanctions on Hamas if it does not return to the negotiation table.
Qatar's Prime Minister, Mohammed Al Thani, met with senior Hamas officials to move forward with negotiations. Israeli officials expressed optimism regarding the possibility of resuming talks "soon" if Qatar succeeds in pressuring Hamas.
