Netanyahu confirms sending team to Doha talks, approving mandate

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirms that he has approved an Israeli delegation to the Qatari capital of Doha for talks aimed at a hostage deal and ceasefire in Gaza.

The statement notes that Netanyahu has also approved “the mandate for conducting the negotiations.”

The statement does not detail who will participate in the talks for the Israeli team.

Earlier, Channel 12 reported the delegation would be led by Mossad chief David Barnea, Shin Bet head Ronen Bar and IDF Maj. Gen. (Res.) Nitzan Alon.

Army Radio reports that senior Netanyahu adviser Ophir Falk will also travel to Doha with the team.

After Falk joined talks in July, reports claimed that Netanyahu had sent him to “supervise” Barnea, underlining distrust between the Israeli negotiators and the premier in Jerusalem.

Tensions have largely emerged around constant lobbying by the Israeli team for Jerusalem to expand its mandate to make concessions in order to clinch a deal. In comments published by Channel 12 news last week, one negotiator reportedly said the Doha talks would be doomed if they are not given expanded guidelines.