Qatar cautiously hopeful after talks with Israel spy chief

The head of Israel’s intelligence, Mossad Director David Barnea, has concluded his visit to Doha, where discussions were held aiming for a ceasefire agreement. This update was provided by Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari during a press briefing on Tuesday. Al-Ansari mentioned that there remains a cautious optimism regarding the progress of these negotiations.

He confirmed Barnea’s departure from Qatar and noted that technical discussions are still underway between Israel and Hamas, with Qatar facilitating the communication between the two sides. Al-Ansari tempered expectations by stating it’s premature to anticipate an imminent agreement or to declare any significant breakthroughs at this stage.

Additionally, al-Ansari highlighted the potential consequences of an Israeli ground operation in Rafah, describing such an action as catastrophic and potentially derailing the ongoing discussions.