• Mon. May 20th, 2024

Head of Israeli Mossad Travels to Qatar to Finalize the Israel-Hamas Hostage Deal

Nov 22, 2023

4 Day Truce Deal

A temporary truce of 4 days beginning tomorrow morning at 10 AM Israel time has been established between Israel and the Hamas group, marking a brief cessation of their prolonged hostilities. This truce, sanctioned by the Israeli government, aims to temporarily suspend the ongoing conflict that has lasted for six weeks and resulted in extensive damage.

As part of this arrangement, a four-day period of ceasefire is agreed upon, during which Israel will cease its military activities in the Gaza region. Concurrently, Hamas has committed to freeing a minimum of 50 individuals from a group of around 240 hostages currently under the control of various militant factions. Furthermore, this agreement stipulates the liberation of 150 Palestinian detainees from Israeli detention centers, reciprocating the release of 50 individuals held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani

Hostages Kidnapped by Hamas on 7th October

The situation involving the hostages taken by Hamas is a significant and complex event. On October 7, Hamas terrorists carried out a deadly cross-border raid into Israel. During this assault, they abducted approximately 240 individuals. This incident occurred as Israeli communities were overwhelmed by the terrorist barbaric onslaught.


GRAPHIC WARNING October 7th Raw Video Footage
Credit: HamasVideo.com


The Israeli government, in response to this ongoing 46 days hostage situation has agreed to a ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas. The deal involves a temporary halt to the ongoing war, in exchange for the release of some of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. This ceasefire is expected to last for four days.

The hostages taken during the attack are part of a broader strategy by Hamas, as they have expressed intentions to use the captives as leverage in negotiations. The war has been marked by significant violence, with about 1,400 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas massacres on October 7.

This series of events led to a heightened response from Israel, including a military invasion of the Gaza strip aimed at countering the Islamist terror groups which govern the strip.

Head of Mossad David Barnea in Qatar

David “Dadi” Barnea is the current Director of Mossad, having assumed this role in June 2021. He succeeded Yossi Cohen in this position. Born on March 29, 1965, Barnea’s early life began in Ashkelon, and he grew up in Rishon Lezion, Israel. His family has a history of overcoming adversity; his father, Joseph Brunner (Barnea), was a refugee who fled Nazi Germany with his family, immigrating to Israel when he was just three years old.

David Barnea is the current Director of Mossad
David Barnea is the current Director of Mossad

Qatar plays a significant role as a mediator. Qatar established itself as a key intermediary, maintaining a direct line of communication with both Israel and Hamas. Qatari mediators worked to negotiate the deal involving the exchange of captives and prisoners between Hamas and Israel. This effort was part of broader negotiations aiming to free hostages seized by Hamas during their attack on October 7.

As of mid-November 2023, these negotiations were reported to be at a “critical and final stage.” The talks revolved around the release of hostages and the establishment of a ceasefire in Gaza. Qatar’s involvement provided an opportunity for the country’s leaders to gain a notable profile in international diplomacy, especially in the context of the Middle East.

Despite positioning itself as a mediator in the Gaza war, Qatar’s leadership also voiced criticism towards Israel, reflecting the complex dynamics of the region. The Qatari foreign ministry’s active engagement in these negotiations underscored the country’s influential role in managing and resolving conflicts in the region

Qatar – Terror Financing State

Qatar has been a significant financial supporter of Hamas, the Palestinian militant organization. Over the years, Qatar has provided more than $1.8 billion in support to Hamas. This support has been crucial for Hamas, particularly after the group’s leadership moved to Qatar. Khaled Meshal, the then head of Hamas, relocated from Syria to Qatar in 2012, and the current head, Ismail Haniyeh, has been residing in Doha since 2016.

Furthermore, Qatar has been instrumental in funding Hamas’s activities in Gaza, including its rule over the region. Over the past five years, Qatar’s financial contributions to Hamas have included cash transfers of around $30 million per month and fuel provisions. This funding has been used for various purposes, including operating Gaza’s sole power plant and supporting the needy population in the enclave.

Hamas, on its part, has utilized a global financing network to channel these supports. This network includes funds from charities and friendly nations, illustrating the extensive reach of Hamas’s financial operations.

The financial relationship between Qatar and Hamas is complex and multifaceted, involving significant sums of money and a wide range of support mechanismsโ€‹.