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Turkish diplomatic sources denied reports Thursday that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Mossad Director David Barnea during his visit to Doha, calling their simultaneous presence in the Qatari capital "completely coincidental" as both officials engaged in separate Gaza cease-fire mediation efforts.
Diplomatic sources rejected foreign media reports suggesting Fidan held talks with the Israeli intelligence chief during his two-day visit to Qatar's capital to discuss Gaza and regional issues.
"Foreign Minister Fidan did not hold such a meeting. Their simultaneous presence in Doha was completely coincidental," diplomatic sources said late Thursday.
The denial comes as multiple parties intensify efforts to broker a Gaza cease-fire.
Fidan met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Thursday, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, though further details were not immediately available.
Turkish diplomatic sources said Fidan's meetings were expected to address the countries' growing strategic partnership, explore new areas of cooperation and prepare for the 11th High Strategic Committee meeting scheduled in Doha later this year.
Israeli media reported that Barnea met with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha to discuss resuming Gaza cease-fire and prisoner swap negotiations with Hamas, according to the daily Yedioth Ahronoth.
Axios reported the visit marked the highest-level contact between Israel and mediators since negotiations broke down in Doha three weeks ago.
The outlet said Barnea told Qatari officials that Israel is prepared to launch a military operation in Gaza City if there is no progress in hostage talks soon.
The U.S., Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye are all involved in mediation efforts to reach a comprehensive ceasefire and hostage release deal.
Axios noted that a Hamas delegation recently visited Istanbul for talks with Fidan before traveling to Cairo to meet Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad to discuss ways to resume negotiations.
Israeli Channel 13 claimed Hamas is likely to present a new proposal for a Gaza cease-fire. There was no comment from Hamas or Qatari officials on the Israeli report.
Egypt's state-run Al-Qahera News channel, citing an Egyptian source, said Hamas was ready to "swiftly" return to ceasefire negotiations with Israel.
The Israeli army has pursued a war in Gaza since October 2023, killing more than 61,700 Palestinians, rejecting international calls for a ceasefire.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
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