Israel has ordered its Mossad negotiating team in Qatar to return to Israel due to what it calls an “impasse.”
“Following the impasse in the negotiations and at the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, David Barnea, head of the Mossad, ordered his team in Doha to return to Israel,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
It said Hamas “did not fulfill its part of the agreement, which included the release of all children and women according to a list that was forwarded to Hamas and approved by it”.
“The head of the Mossad thanks the head of the CIA, the Egyptian Minister of Intelligence and the Prime Minister of Qatar for their partnership in the tremendous mediation efforts that led to the release of 84 children and women from the Gaza Strip in addition to 24 foreign citizens,” it added.
Israel renews its bombardment of Gaza, hitting areas across the enclave after the end of a week-long truce.
At least 15,207 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7.
