Israel’s wartime unity government rejected a proposal from the country’s spy chief to fly to Qatar and resume talks to release hostages, sparking outrage from the families of the captives who are still held by Hamas.
The head of Mossad, David Barnea, offered to travel to Qatar to initiate new negotiations to free the remaining 135 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. However, the Cabinet decided it was not the right time to send Barnea, according to a report from Israel’s Channel 13.
A senior Israeli government official denied the report and said that Barnea’s plan had not been blocked. Meanwhile, the families of those kidnapped by Hamas expressed their shock and frustration at the lack of progress in securing the release of their loved ones.
Freed hostages have warned that the remaining captives might die under the harsh conditions if they are not immediately freed. Israel believes 20 hostages have already died in captivity. Featuring a mix of different political backgrounds, the war Cabinet is made up of five senior Israeli officials: Netanyahu, Gallant, Gantz, Eisenkot, and Dermer.
Israel’s Mossad Director David Barnea during the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) World Summit in Herzliya on Sept.10. Gil Cohen-Magen / AFP via Getty Images file
Israeli author and commentator Nadav Eyal said that members of the war Cabinet agreed that now was not the time to restart hostage negotiations. However, they expressed support for resuming negotiations in the future.
At the same time, the families, who feel like their requests for updates on the government’s plan to free their relatives have been ignored, have been pressing for progress.
The delicate negotiations involving U.S. President Joe Biden, Netanyahu, and Qatari and Egyptian officials yielded a seven-day pause in fighting and the release of over 100 hostages by Hamas. For more, follow the link Read More