Israel will send a delegation to Doha to discuss a Gaza ceasefire deal as the US Secretary of State was welcomed today by the Emir of Qatar.
The Israeli delegation will arrive in Doha on Sunday, a spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
He will join Qatari officials – who have been key mediators for Hamas, the militant group that rules Gaza – as well as US diplomats seeking to renew talks on a ceasefire and hostage release deal.
Mr Blinken was filmed today being greeted by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as he arrived in the Qatari capital.
It is the 11th time the US secretary has visited the Middle East since the Gaza war broke out a year ago, following a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, in which 1,200 people were killed in southern Israel and about 250 were taken hostage.
The massacre, which marked the bloodiest day in Israel’s history, sparked Israel’s military campaign in the besieged Gaza enclave, where local health authorities say more than 42,000 people have been killed in the past year.
Seven children were among at least 17 killed in an Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in central Gaza today alone, Palestinian officials and a hospital said.
While the Israeli army said four soldiers were killed and six wounded during a battle in southern Lebanon, where the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group clashed with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Mossad chief David Barnea is part of the Israeli delegation traveling to Doha for the talks.
He will meet CIA director William Burns and the prime minister of Qatar, Mr Netanyahu’s office said today.
“The parties will discuss the various options for starting negotiations for the release of the hostages from Hamas
captivity, against the backdrop of recent developments,” the statement said.
Read more:
Analysis: What will Sinwar’s death mean for the Gaza conflict?
“This is our land, we deserve it”
Months of ceasefire talks brokered by the United States, Egypt and Qatar broke down over the summer.
Mr Blinken, speaking after talks with Qatar’s prime minister, said it was not yet determined whether Hamas was ready to start new talks, but urged the group to do so.
His trip is the first to the region after Israel killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, leader of the October 7 group attack.
Washington called for his death to be used as an opportunity to try to restore peace.
