Netanyahu Sends Mossad Chief for Ceasefire Talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dispatched a high-level delegation, including Mossad chief David Barnea, to Qatar to negotiate a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, signaling progress in ongoing discussions amid the war in Gaza. The talks, mediated by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, have faced repeated stalls, with only one brief ceasefire in the last 15 months of conflict. While Netanyahu aims to destroy Hamas's military capabilities, Hamas demands a full Israeli troop withdrawal, complicating the negotiations. The urgency is heightened by families of around 100 hostages urging Netanyahu to secure their release, especially after the recent recovery of two hostages' bodies. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has indicated that a deal is 'very close', with pressures from both outgoing President Biden and President-elect Trump for a resolution before January 20. As the humanitarian crisis deepens, with over 46,000 Palestinians reported killed, the situation remains precarious and fluid.