The CIA and Mossad met with the Qatari prime minister in Doha on Thursday to discuss a deal for hostage releases and a pause in Hamas-Israel fighting in the Gaza Strip, a source briefed on the meeting told Reuters. The outcome of the talks was unclear. Qatar, where several Hamas political leaders are based, has been mediating between Hamas and Israeli officials for the release of hostages taken by Hamas militants when they rampaged into Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,400 people. Israel then launched an unrelenting bombardment of Hamas-ruled Gaza and late last month launched an armored invasion of the enclave, where over 10,000 people have now been killed. David Barnea, head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence service, CIA Director William Burns, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani held the meeting after Qatari mediators met officials from the Hamas political office on Wednesday night and discussed potential parameters of a deal. The talks also included a discussion about allowing humanitarian imports of fuel into Gaza. A source told Reuters on Wednesday the talks touched on a release of 10-15 hostages in exchange for a one- to two-day humanitarian pause in the war that is devastating Gaza. Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani later on Thursday arrived in the United Arab Emirates capital, Abu Dhabi, where he met with Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Sheikh Tamim was accompanied by the Qatari prime minister. The purpose of the visit was not immediately clear.
“Intelligence Chiefs from Mossad and CIA Meet with Qatar PM in Doha to Discuss Gaza Hostage Deal” – Insider Source
