A senior member of the Israeli negotiating team suddenly announced his resignation from his position, in light of the faltering negotiations to reach a deal to release prisoners and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, amid American assurances of the desire to reach an agreement.
Israeli Army Radio quoted an official source as saying that the deputy army representative in the negotiating team submitted his resignation, while the official Israeli Radio reported that the resignation took place because the negotiations were stuck and stalled.
The official broadcasting authority said on Monday that Brigadier General Oren Seter, deputy to Major General Nitzan Alon, the Israeli army’s negotiating official, unexpectedly announced his resignation as a member of the negotiating team.
The commission explained that Setter was deeply involved in developing a plan for a ceasefire and the release of detainees, which was adopted by President (US Joe) Biden and the United Nations Security Council.
She added that on Monday afternoon, Mossad chief David Barnea returned from Doha, and “it can be said that if there had been any possibility of a breakthrough, we would not have witnessed this dramatic resignation.”
For his part, Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari, commenting on the resignation of the senior official in the negotiating team, said: As part of the team’s work, (Seiter) worked tirelessly to strengthen efforts to return the abductees. The officer will return to assist the team in the future as well, as needed.
Brigadier General Oren Seter is the deputy in charge of the missing persons file in the Israeli army, General Nitzan Alon, and is a member of the Israeli negotiating team regarding the exchange deal.
Doha talks
During a two-day visit, the Mossad chief held discussions in Doha with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and CIA Director William Burns.
The parties discussed a new unified plan towards a deal to return the prisoners, which brings together previous proposals and also takes into account the main issues and recent developments in the region, according to the statement.
Although the mediation efforts of Qatar and Egypt have continued for months, and the presentation of one agreement proposal after another to end the war on Gaza and exchange prisoners, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to set new conditions that hinder the agreement.
In light of the continuing stagnation in concluding an agreement, the families of the Israeli prisoners came out to demand the conclusion of an exchange deal in front of Netanyahu’s residence, and the police arrested 9 of them.
American positions
Earlier Tuesday, US President Joe Biden stressed the necessity of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and added that he would immediately follow up on ceasefire efforts with his team, which is now discussing a ceasefire in Gaza.
For its part, the US State Department said that “there is an opportunity to reach an agreement on the release of the hostages” and a ceasefire in Gaza, stressing that it will continue to strive to achieve that.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller indicated in a press briefing that it is not clear whether the new leadership of Hamas will take a new position after the killing of Sinwar or not.
On the other hand, Israeli Channel 12 quoted informed sources that there is a strong American desire to reach an agreement on Gaza before the elections, and that there are several variables that make the agreement possible if the Israeli government approves it.
The New York Times quoted officials as saying that Netanyahu is waiting to find out who will succeed President Joe Biden before committing to a diplomatic path.
Israel, with American support, has continued a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, and has been waging a massive war on Lebanon since September 23.