Israeli officials have arrived in Doha, Qatar yesterday for talks aimed at a Gaza ceasefire and a hostage-prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas, a source with knowledge of the talks tells AFP.

“An Israeli technical team is in Doha to discuss the ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza,” the source said, on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks.

“This is between Israeli and Qatari working-level teams,” the source said, indicating discussions were aimed at bridging gaps between the parties.

The meetings follow a trip by David Barnea, who heads Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, to Doha on Wednesday, the source said, though there was no indication Barnea was present at the current meetings.