Iran's Vice-President for strategic affairs, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has acknowledged that Israel supplied Iran with centrifuge platforms containing explosives for its nuclear enrichment programme. This revelation highlights the sophistication of sabotage programs targeting Iran, which have been ongoing since the country was hit by Western sanctions. The comments were made in an interview with a program affiliated with the Institute for the Compilation and Publication of Imam Khomeini's Works, a publicly funded organisation in Iran. Zarif discussed a 2021 attack on Iran's underground Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, which was previously reported to have been carried out by Israel's Mossad intelligence agency. He stated that the sabotage attacks were part of the damage caused by sanctions, making it difficult for Iran to purchase equipment directly from factories, increasing the risk of infiltration by foreign agents. The comments come as concerns grow over Iran's nuclear program, with officials threatening to seek an atomic bomb and the country enriching uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/israel-supplied-iran-with-centrifuge-platforms-containing-explosives-top-official-acknowledges/article69101264.eceMediator Qatar has announced that negotiations between Israel and Hamas are at the "closest point" yet to sealing a deal, indicating progress in the ongoing ceasefire talks. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has sent Mossad director Yossi Cohen to Gaza for further discussions. The conflict has resulted in a high death toll, with a recent study suggesting it could be 40% higher than reported. In other developments, the body of an Israeli hostage was found in Gaza, possibly alongside his son's remains, and Israel is considering limiting humanitarian aid to Gaza following the inauguration of US President Trump.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/israel-hamas-war/Negotiations between Israel and Hamas have made progress, with a draft deal presented by Qatari mediators to end the war in Gaza. The draft includes a ceasefire agreement and prisoner exchange terms, which were discussed at talks held on Sunday in Doha, attended by officials from both sides, including Qatar's prime minister, as well as heads of Israel's Mossad and Shin Bet spy agencies.
https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/talks-over-some-core-issues-for-gaza-ceasefire-made-progress-hamas-18253281A ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza has been presented to Israel and Hamas by mediators, according to an official briefed on the negotiations. The draft agreement was given to both sides during talks held in Doha, Qatar, which included representatives from the US, including outgoing envoy Brett McGurk and incoming envoy Steve Witkoff, as well as senior officials from Israel's Mossad and Shin Bet spy agencies and Qatar's prime minister.
https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2025/01/13/gaza-ceasefire-deal-likely-this-week-says-joe-bidens-adviserA high-level Israeli security delegation led by Mossad Head David Barnea, the head of the Shin Bet domestic security service Ronen Bar, and the military's head of the hostage brief Nitzan Alon arrived in Qatar on Sunday for talks on a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal. The delegation is part of renewed efforts by Qatari, Egyptian, and US mediators to reach an agreement to halt fighting in the enclave and free the remaining 98 hostages before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20. Israeli officials have reported some progress in indirect talks with Hamas since Thursday, but details remain unclear due to a persistent gap between the two sides: Hamas demands an end to the war while Israel refuses to end it as long as Hamas rules Gaza and poses a threat to Israelis.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40342406/top-israeli-security-delegation-in-doha-for-gaza-talksA high-level Israeli security delegation led by Mossad Head David Barnea arrived in Qatar on January 12 for talks on a potential ceasefire deal with Hamas to free the remaining 98 hostages held in Gaza. The delegation, which also includes Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet domestic security service, and Nitzan Alon, military's head of the hostage brief, is meeting with Qatari officials as part of renewed efforts by Qatar, Egypt, and the US to reach a deal before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20. The talks come after Israeli and Palestinian officials reported progress in indirect negotiations since Thursday, but details remain unclear due to the sensitive nature of the discussions. A key obstacle remains the demand by Hamas for an end to the war, which Israel refuses to agree to as long as Hamas rules Gaza and poses a threat to Israelis.
https://channelnewsasia.com/world/top-israeli-security-delegation-doha-gaza-talks-4852911Israeli officials, including Mossad director David Barnea and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, are participating in indirect talks with Hamas in Doha, Qatar. The discussions have made some progress, but details remain unclear. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on Saturday, after Witkoff had spoken with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani the day before. A key obstacle to a deal is Hamas' demand for an end to the war in Gaza, which Israel refuses to agree to as long as Hamas poses a threat to Israelis.
https://www.voanews.com/a/signs-point-to-israeli-hamas-ceasefire-but-no-certainty-/7934149.htmlA final draft of a deal to end the Israel-Gaza war has been presented to both sides by mediators in Doha, Qatar. The draft includes a ceasefire and the release of hostages, according to an official briefed on the negotiations. The talks were attended by envoys from US President Joe Biden and president-elect Donald Trump, as well as officials from Israel's Mossad and Shin Bet spy agencies and Qatar's prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3294605/final-draft-gaza-truce-deal-presented-sides-after-breakthrough-official-says?module=top_story&pgtype=sectionIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is taking a step towards a potential ceasefire in the Gaza conflict by sending David Barnea, the director of the Mossad foreign intelligence agency, to indirect talks with Hamas in Qatar. This development indicates that high-level Israeli officials are now involved in the negotiations, which have been ongoing for 15 months and have only yielded one brief ceasefire so far. The US is pressing for a deal before January 20, when a new president will be inaugurated, adding to the sense of urgency.
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3294392/israels-netanyahu-sends-mossad-chief-gaza-ceasefire-talks-sign-progress?module=top_story&pgtype=section