A former senior Mossad official, who played a key role in the early negotiations for the release of hostages at the start of the war, had business ties with Qatar without Israeli officials knowing, and is currently under investigation in connection with the "Qatargate" affair, Kan News reported on Monday.
Many members of the negotiation team, including those from the IDF, were unaware of the former official's business ties with Qatar, nor any indications that he was receiving financial compensation from the country.
During certain phases of the discussions, he acted as the official Mossad representative and was responsible for representing the agency's position, the report noted.
In an interview with Kan News, the former official claimed that he had disclosed his Qatar connections to both the Mossad and Major General (res.) Nitzan Alon, the IDF representative in the negotiations.
However, an investigation by Kan News revealed that Mossad officials were unaware of these ties, and it is likely they would have prevented him from serving as their representative if they had known.
The former official participated in the negotiations for around two weeks, initially as a Mossad representative and later as an advisor, before discontinuing his involvement.
Former official believed to have Qatar ties alongside Maj.-Gen. (Res.) Yoav Mordechai
This development follows reports from May 8 indicating that the same former senior Mossad official, a close business associate of Major General (res.) Yoav Mordechai is suspected of offenses linked to the "Qatargate" affair, including contact with a foreign agent.
The security establishment was investigating connections between Mordechai, Yonatan Urich, and the former official. Sources familiar with the two men say they maintained a longstanding personal and business relationship, and Mordechai has been involved in business dealings with the Qataris.
Since the war's outbreak, Mordechai has also been serving in the reserves within the IDF's Hostage Headquarters under Major General Nitzan Alon.