A senior Israeli official denies that the purpose of Mossad chief David Barnea’s trip to Doha was to discuss negotiations toward a hostage and ceasefire deal, saying that Barnea’s meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Abdulrahman al-Thani was for Mossad-related purposes.
Nonetheless, the official adds that Barnea told the premier any partial hostage deals “are off the table.”
“The head of the Mossad traveled to Qatar on matters related to the Mossad, and not regarding the negotiations for a hostage deal,” the official says in a statement.
“Still, the head of the Mossad clarified in the meeting that a partial deal is off the table,” the official says.
Mediators have been working in recent days to revive prospects for ceasefire negotiations after the most recent round of talks last month ended in an impasse. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government subsequently approved a plan to conquer Gaza City.
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