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Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Official who was barred from hostage talks over Qatar ties cleared to re-join for 12 days
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Maj. Gen. (res) Yoav Mordechai will temporarily return to his post assisting the IDF’s envoy for hostage negotiations, after he was suspended over suspicions surrounding his role in the Qatargate scandal, Haaretz reports.
He will be able to serve in the role for 12 days, after police earlier this month barred him from working as deputy to the army’s hostage envoy, Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon following several rounds of interrogation under caution.
Citing a security source, Haaretz claims that the IDF sought Mordechai’s return due to his wide-reaching connections in Qatar — a key mediator in hostage negotiations — which the army believes could aid Israel in talks.
Mordechai is suspected of taking bribes and maintaining contact with a foreign agent as part of his activity in the cybersecurity firm Novard, which he joined two months after its inception.
Police believe the facilitated business dealings between Qatari officials and Jonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein, who are suspected of spearheading a PR campaign on Doha’s behalf while in the prime minister’s employ.
According to the report, IDF head Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir reached out to police chief Danny Levy, requesting Mordechai be allowed to resume his post amid intensifying efforts towards a deal to return the hostages and end the Gaza war.
Police went to the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court and said they would allow Mordechai back on the team, so long as he refrains from dealing with Qatar-related issues, directly or indirectly.
The Times of Israel Community.