Talks on Gaza ceasefire and hostage exchange underway in Qatar

Israeli officials arrived in Qatar’s capital on Monday for discussions focused on achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and facilitating a hostage-prisoner exchange with Hamas, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.

“An Israeli technical team is in Doha to discuss the ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the talks. The source added that the discussions are being conducted at the “working-level” between Israeli and Qatari teams and are aimed at narrowing differences between the sides.

The ongoing meetings follow a recent visit by David Barnea, head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, to Doha last Wednesday. However, the source did not confirm whether Barnea was involved in the current round of negotiations.

Qatar, in coordination with the United States and Egypt, has been a key mediator in back-channel efforts to secure a truce in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas. Despite these efforts, the conflict continues to rage, with only a brief one-week pause in fighting late last year. That pause allowed the release of scores of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinians detained in Israeli jails.

No breakthroughs have been reported in the current talks, but Qatar’s role as an intermediary continues to underscore its influence in the region. The Gulf state has long positioned itself as a diplomatic bridge, hosting both Israeli and Palestinian representatives in past negotiations.