Shin Bet chief, captives file head refuse to join talks in Qatar
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Israeli media reports that the top Israeli officials believe that the discussions will be "pointless" because Netanyahu will soon introduce changes to the deal and sabotage it.
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Israeli tanks advancing toward forcibly displaced Palestinians while also blocking the road in Gaza in May 2024 (AFP)
Israeli media reported on Friday that the head of the Prisoners of War and Missing Persons Center, Nitzan Alon, and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar "do not intend to travel to Qatar next week" to discuss the Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.
The military affairs commentator for Israeli Channel 12, Nir Dvori, said that both senior officials believe that "traveling is pointless" because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "wants to introduce changes to the deal that Hamas will not accept. Therefore, only Mossad chief Yossi Cohen will travel."
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Sources told Reuters that the occupation entity is seeking to introduce modifications that would complicate the negotiations. These modifications involve inspecting forcibly displaced people as they return to northern areas and controlling the border with Egypt (Philadelphia Axis), among other issues.
Furthermore, citing sources familiar with the negotiations, Dvori said: "We are losing momentum. The opportunity for the deal is passing. Netanyahu is acting as if he has abandoned the hostages. We are on the way to missing the deal."
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The Israeli security and military establishments believe that if a deal to return the captives is not reached now, it "will lead to the outbreak of war in the north at a time that is not suitable for Israel," he continued.
"Israel is not strategically ready for any additional military escalation, according to the security and military establishment."
An Israeli dilemma
Axios reported today that CIA Director William Burns is scheduled to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani, Mossad Director David Barnea, and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel in Rome to discuss the Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal.
The news site said the meeting will focus on devising a strategy to advance the negotiations for a ceasefire and exchange deal, the report mentioned, noting however that there will be no discussions on the remaining unresolved issues.
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Meanwhile, pressure continues to grow on Netanyahu to end the genocide in Gaza as US presidential elections loom.
In a Friday report, The Wall Street Journal revealed that, despite the strong support demonstrated during Netanyahu's visit to the United States, the prime minister witnessed impatience from both sides of the American political spectrum regarding the occupation regime's war in Gaza.
Netanyahu is currently facing a difficult decision: whether to pursue a ceasefire agreement, despite the risk that a temporary pause could destabilize his fragile coalition government.
At the same time, the Palestinian Resistance group Hamas has recently demonstrated more willingness to negotiate, showing flexibility that might facilitate a deal.
