TEL AVIV, December 2. /TASS/. The chief of the Israeli intelligence agency, known as Mossad, David Barnea, recalled a team of negotiators from Qatar at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s behest due to an "impasse in the talks" on the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli prime minister’s office said referring to the intelligence agency.
"After the impasse in the talks, at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s behest, Mossad Director David Barnea ordered his team of negotiators in Doha to return to Israel. The terrorist organization Hamas has failed to fulfil its part of the agreement which stipulates the release of all women and children in accordance with the list submitted to and approved by Hamas," the statement said.
"The Mossad chief thanks the CIA leadership, the Egyptian intelligence minister and the Qatari prime minister for their tremendous mediation efforts that resulted in the release of 84 children and women from the Gaza Strip as well as 24 foreign nationals," Netanyahu’s office added.