Barnea reportedly tells hostage families chances for deal with Hamas low

Mossad spy agency chief David Barnea told relatives of hostages held in Gaza in a recent meeting that the chances for a deal with Hamas are low, Channel 12 news reports.

Barnea told the relatives that mediators have not received any answer from Hamas on recent proposals and that the terror group is still demanding an end to the war in exchange for the release of hostages, Channel 12 reports.

When asked if the government would agree to the end of the war, Barnea reportedly said: “The negotiating team has no mandate from the prime minister to advance a total deal and the end of the war.”

Two of the possible hostage deals currently being discussed are an Egyptian proposal to release four hostages during a two-day ceasefire, and a multi-stage, Qatari-American proposal that would ultimately see all hostages released and the war ended.