An Israeli delegation will depart for Doha on Sunday to finalize the details of the hostage-ceasefire agreement in Gaza, according to the Prime Minister's Office. The delegation is expected to remain in Qatar for several days in an effort to finalize all remaining details and enable the signing of the agreement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed on Thursday that the delegation continue negotiations in Doha to finalize the details and parameters of the agreement. The delegation, which includes Mossad Director David Barnea and Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar, as well as Brig. Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon and Prime Minister's adviser Ophir Falk, met with mediators yesterday and will continue meetings with them over the weekend.
According to officials in Jerusalem, the delegation is expected to remain in Doha until the deal is finalized. As of now, the gaps have not been bridged despite Netanyahu's announcement on Wednesday that 'we are closer than ever' to bringing back the hostages. Sources involved in the negotiations say the Qatari mediators are expected to travel to Cairo to hold discussions with the Egyptians on the Philadelphi Corridor and the Rafah crossing.
As reported yesterday in Yedioth Ahronoth, the main sticking point between the parties is Hamas's insistence that the IDF withdraw completely from the Philadelphi Corridor and the Netzarim Corridor, as well as allow Gazans to return freely to the northern Gaza Strip. Israel, meanwhile, insists on maintaining a military presence in the Philadelphi Corridor even during the ceasefire, and wants to maintain control of the Netzarim Corridor to conduct security checks on Palestinians moving northward.
Another point of contention is Hamas's demand for the release of high-profile prisoners as part of the deal, while Netanyahu is unwilling to agree to this. A senior Israeli official said yesterday that 'there has been progress, but it's not a done deal.' American officials also expressed cautious optimism but noted that 'we've been here before.'
Meanwhile, relatives of hostages held a protest march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which concluded yesterday at the Prime Minister's residence. 'We demand that the government finalize the deal immediately and bring all the hostages home,' said one family member. 'Every day of delay is another day of suffering for our loved ones in Hamas captivity.'