Description: Top level security officials from the Israeli government have been received in Doha, Qatar on 12 Jan 2025 amid continued peace talks for Gaza ceasefire. Among the officials are the head of the Mossad, David Barnea, and the head of the Shin Bet, Ronen Bar. Both Israeli and Palestinian officials have stated that backchannel talks resulted with some progress but not a concrete proposal or a resolution. Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s Middle East Representative, previously met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Impact: With the International Community actively monitoring the conflict, the US would play a crucial role in providing political and diplomatic insurance towards resolution. Although indications of possible peace agreement had been floated around, with Israel’s resurgence in Syria and Iran regionally on the backfoot, the agreement seemed less likely. The US, as a close Israeli ally, would be expected to ensure Israel’s regional dominance and lean all and any further negotiations in their favor, as Hamas’ capitulation looking like the likely scenario for both US and Israel