Mossad chief David Barnea has proposed banning Hamas leaders from the Gaza Strip as part of a broader ceasefire deal. Citing officials familiar with the discussions, CNN revealed that Barnea raised the idea last month in a meeting in Warsaw with CIA Director Bill Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, and that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken The possibility was raised again in Doha earlier this month. One of the officials said Qatar's prime minister told Blinken that the idea would “never work” because Hamas does not believe Israel will end military operations in Gaza after the terror group's leaders leave the enclave. Despite the nearly four-month war, Israel estimates it has failed to capture or kill any of Hamas' top leaders in Gaza, and about 70 percent of Hamas combat forces remain intact. And the internal pressure to reach a quick agreement to release the hostages is growing.
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