Amid renewed calls for a hostage release deal, lower-level Israeli delegation heads to Qatar

Rescued Israeli-Arab hostage al-Qadi tells Netanyahu: ‘There are still more people waiting’

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A lower-level team of negotiators from Israel is expected to head to Doha, Qatar on Wednesday as Israel, the United States and mediators representing the Hamas terrorist organization from Qatar and Egypt continue to discuss a deal to release the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza.

According to Hebrew media, the delegation traveling to Qatar will contain working-level officials from the Mossad foreign intelligence agency, Israel Defense Forces, and the Shin Bet security agency.

High-level talks were held in Cairo, Egypt last week, but on Sunday, Hamas announced it would not accept the proposal reached during those discussions. Although Hamas did not send representatives directly to the talks, they met with Qatari and Egyptian mediators after the main negotiations concluded.

An Israeli source told The Jerusalem Post, “The delegation is expected to continue working with the mediators to reduce the gaps.”

Despite the rejection of the “bridging proposal by Hamas leaders,” American officials continue to express hope that a deal can be reached soon.

Since the dramatic announcement of the rescue of Israeli-Arab Qaid Farhan al-Qadi on Wednesday, there has been a renewed push by some in Israel to achieve a hostage deal soon.

Following his rescue, while speaking by phone, al-Qadi told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “There are still more people waiting.”

Al-Qadi reported that one of the hostages held with him in Hamas captivity had died.

Hebrew news site N12 reported that Netanyahu held several meetings with Mossad Director David Barnea and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar following their return from the Cairo talks.

However, high-level officials from the IDF and the political echelon, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, and Maj.-Gen. Alon Nitzan from the IDF’s Hostage and Missing Persons Unit, were excluded from those talks.

Hebrew media claimed that Netanyahu's move aimed to minimize the risk of these officials attempting to soften Israel’s position in the negotiations.

However, the Prime Minister’s Office (PRMO) called the allegations “baseless.”

“The mandate given to the delegation was decided on in consultation with all security officials,” the PMO said in a statement. “The sole decision beyond that in recent days was regarding whether or not to send the delegation for talks.”

Netanyahu has publicly and privately expressed doubts about the success of the negotiations, claiming that Hamas is the one refusing to agree to the proposals.

The prime minister has also refused to budge regarding the issue of Israeli control of the Philadelphi Corridor along the border with Egypt.

In its recent statement, Hamas appeared to reverse its previous stance, in which it had stated it would not demand a complete ceasefire.

On Sunday, the terrorist group demanded a full IDF withdrawal from Gaza and concrete steps to end the war.