Israeli delegation begins hostage deal discussions in Qatar

Hostage negotiations in Doha won’t end on Thursday and will likely continue into Friday, US National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby told reporters in a virtual meeting. 

“Given the complexity of the agreement, I do not anticipate coming out of these talks today with a deal,” Kirby said. 

“In fact, I’d expect the talks to continue into tomorrow. This is vital work. The remaining obstacles can be overcome, and we must bring this process to a close,” he said.

Awaiting an attack by Iran

The US had announced the talks last Friday as both Iran and Hezbollah had threatened reprisal attacks against Israel, which Washington feared would spark a regional war.

Iran has since said that it would respect a hostage deal, which the US believes would also lead to a permanent ceasefire to the Gaza war, which began on October 7 as well as the cross-border violence between the IDF and Hezbollah in the northern part of the country.

Kirby said that CIA Director William Burns and special envoy Brett McGurk were representing the US at the talks. 

Qatari prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel are also participating. Their countries have been the main mediators between Israeli and Hamas, since 251 hostages were seized on October 7. There are some 115 hostages remaining in Gaza

Officials from Qatar, Egypt, and the US are speaking with the Israeli team, Kirby said. That team is led by Mossad Chief David Barnea.

“Qatar and Egypt are, in turn mediating with Hamas,” Kirby said.

“The resumption of these talks is an important step, and in the lead-up to this meeting, we had already narrowed some gaps,” Kirby said.

“Today, we are focused on the details of the implementation of the agreement,” he said.