Israeli delegation to leave Doha talks for 'internal consultations'

The Israeli delegation will leave Doha, where negotiations are underway on the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip, to hold "internal consultations". The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on December 24.

"The negotiating team <...> will return tonight from Qatar to Israel after a week of important talks. The team is back for internal consultations in Israel regarding the continuation of hostage return negotiations," the statement said.

It is specified that the negotiation team includes the Israel General Security and IDF services, as well as members of the Mossad intelligence service.

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Earlier, on December 23, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that there was "some progress" in the negotiations on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the exchange of hostages. Netanyahu emphasized that the progress is due to the military pressure on Hamas in Gaza and the death of the head of the politburo of the radical Hamas movement, Yahya Sinwar.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian radical Hamas movement subjected Israel to a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Israel began retaliatory strikes the same day.

The Palestinians intend to return the borders between the two countries that existed before the 1967 Six-Day War, with possible land swaps. Palestine wants to establish its state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and make East Jerusalem its capital. Israel refuses these conditions.