Qatar Denies Hamas Leaders Exile Clause as Israel Responds to New Hostage Release Proposal
Jonathan Lis Haaretz
Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani speaks during a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinkens in Doha on Sunday. (photo: AFP)
Political sources have emphasized that Israel's consistent position is not to accede to Hamas' demand to stop the war, nor to predicate a hostage release deal on a complete cessation of military activity in the Gaza Strip
Qatar also clarified that, contrary to Israel's Channel 13's news report, the proposal on the table does not include expelling senior Hamas officials like Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif from Gaza as a condition for cease-fire. "No such plan has been discussed at any stage with either side since the confrontation began," a Qatari official said.
He added that, "spreading false information could harm the ongoing sensitive negotiations," noting that "Qatar continues to engage in dialogue with all parties in order to mediate a direct end to the bloodshed, protect the lives of innocent civilians, ensure the release of hostages and facilitate humanitarian aid to Gaza."
Political sources have emphasized that Israel's consistent position is not to accede to Hamas' demand to stop the war, nor to predicate a hostage release deal on a complete cessation of military activity in the Gaza Strip.
Either way, an Israeli source estimated in a conversation with Haaretz that the sides are still far from any agreement.
Last night, Israel's war cabinet discussed the parameters for hostage release deals, presented by Mossad Chief David Barnea and Maj. Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon, the coordinator of matters related to the hostages and missing persons.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement that "the war cabinet must not engage in anything other than the return of the hostages; we demand that they approve any deal that leads to their immediate release alive."
Hamas representative in Lebanon Osama Hamdan said last night that the organization does not discuss any initiative that does not include ending the fighting. "The proposal to disarm the resistance forces is a naive proposal which has no bearing in reality," he said. He emphasized that "the talk of exiling the resistance forces from the Gaza Strip is an illusion."
