A team from Israel's Mossad intelligence services has been ordered to return home after talks in Qatar for another pause in fighting in Gaza reaches a "dead end".
A team from Israel's Mossad intelligence services arrived in Doha on Saturday for talks with Qatari mediators for another pause in the ongoing war. New parameters for the release of hostages and a truce was considered by both Israel and Hamas, when the former accused the latter for truce violations.
According to the Times of Israel, a statement was released from Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s office recalling the Mossad team.
“Due to the dead end in negotiations, and following instructions from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mossad head David Barnea ordered the negotiating team in Doha to return home,” read the statement.
Israel criticised Hamas for not fulfilling its obligations under the truce agreement.
“The Hamas terror group did not fulfill its obligations under the agreement that included releasing all the women and children that were on the list provided to Hamas that had authorized it,” the statement added.
The Israel-Hamas truce began on November 24, which saw the release of Israeli women and children taken as hostage on October 7. The truce lasted a week before collapsing. Israel accused Hamas of refusing to release all the women it
held.
Meanwhile, several trucks carrying humanitarian supplies entered the Gaza Strip on Saturday, as Israeli troops in northern Gaza continue to encounter Hamas fighters.
Macron to go to Qatar to work on new truce
French President Emmanuel Macron said that France was "very concerned" regarding the ongoing war in Gaza. While talking at a press conference during the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, Macron said that he will be heading to Qatar for new truce talks.
"We are at a moment when Israeli authorities must more precisely define their objectives and their final goal: the total destruction of Hamas, does anyone think it is possible? If this is the case, the war will last 10 years," he said.
Macron also added that there is no lasting security for Israel in the region if its security is achieved at the cost of Palestinian lives.