Israel will send the chief of its Mossad intelligence agency to Qatar to continue talks over a potential ceasefire-for-hostages deal in Gaza, in a possible sign the negotiations may be advancing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Saturday it had directed Mossad chief David Barnea to head a delegation “to depart for Doha to continue advancing a deal for the release of our hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dispatched a top-tier delegation to Qatar in an effort to finalise a hostage-ceasefire deal with the Hamas terror group, his office announced on Saturday night.