The end of David Barnea’s five-year term as director of Mossad has prompted a reassessment of one of the most intense periods in the history of Israel’s foreign intelligence service. Barnea took over the agency in June 2021 and was 61 when he completed his tenure in June 2026. He spent much of his adult life in Israel’s intelligence community: after serving in the elite Sayeret Matkal unit, he joined Mossad in the mid-1990s and later headed Tzomet, the agency’s principal human intelligence division.

Mossad chief David Barnea is visiting Qatar in an effort to restart peace negotiations over Gaza, Israeli officials told Reuters on Thursday.

Mossad spy agency chief David Barnea on Friday visited alone to Doha to meet with Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, according to Israeli officials, News.Az reports citing the Kan public broadcaster.