A report by Al Jazeera on 16 December 2023 mentioned that Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, met the chief of Mossad (Israeli intelligence agency). Earlier on 16 December 2023, Qatar confirmed that talks were underway for a possible new truce.

The report said that in a press conference on 16 December 2023, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the conflict an “existential war”, and said Gaza would be demilitarised and under Israeli security control. “The instruction I am giving the negotiating team is predicated on this pressure, without which we have nothing,” he said.

The report also mentioned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had made comments suggesting that new negotiations were underway to recover hostages held by Hamas. Israeli leader’s comments came after Qatar's Prime Minister met Mossad chief.

Netanyahu sidestepped a question about the meeting reportedly held in Europe, but confirmed he had given instructions to the negotiating team. “We have serious criticisms of Qatar … but right now, we are trying to complete the recovery of our hostages,” he said.

As per the report, a Hamas statement later said the group “affirms its position not to open any negotiations to exchange prisoners unless the aggression against our people stops once and for all. The movement communicated this position to all mediators”.

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Source: Al Jazeera
Cover image credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Qatar

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Vrinda Abilash

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