The director of the Central Intelligence Agency and his Israeli counterpart plan to meet with Qatari officials in the coming days to discuss the possibility of a second hostage deal in the Gaza Strip and suspend fighting, the official said. Three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.
William Burns and David Balnea, head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, are scheduled to meet with Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Europe this weekend, a summary of the meeting said. An official interviewed told the news agency.
Egypt's intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, is also expected to attend, another source said.
US media reports also said Burns would travel to Europe to meet with Israeli and Qatari officials about a ceasefire.
President Joe Biden's administration will release more than 100 remaining hostages taken during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas that sparked the Gaza war, killing 1,200 people, most of them civilians. trying to promote. However, there is still a considerable gap between the demands of both sides.
U.S. and Israeli intelligence chiefs have previously met with Qatari and Egyptian officials and helped broker a short ceasefire in November that resulted in the release of more than 100 hostages.
White House national security secretary John Kirby told reporters aboard Air Force One with Biden that Burns “assisted us with the hostage trade that was taking place and pursued new deals.” “We were trying to assist the agency in doing so,” he said, referring to specific questions to the agency.
The CIA has a policy of not disclosing the director's travel plans, but reportedly declined to comment on the meeting. washington post.
Israel, a U.S. ally, has vowed to eradicate Hamas, carrying out heavy attacks that have destroyed much of the Gaza Strip and killed at least 25,700 people, Palestinian health officials said.
A third source familiar with the talks said Israel has proposed a 60-day cessation of fighting during which more than 100 hostages, starting with civilian women and children, would be released in stages.
The bodies of male civilians, female soldiers and hostages who died after being abducted by Hamas will also be released later, officials said.
However, this plan is at significant odds with Hamas's previous proposal, raising questions about whether the gap can be bridged. The source said that Hamas last week announced an end to the war, international guarantees that it would not start anew, and the release of all detainees held by Israel, including those who took part in the October 7 attack. I proposed his release.
Israel has consistently opposed a permanent ceasefire, a position supported by the US government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel had rejected Hamas' terms.
Qatar's al-Thani is scheduled to visit Washington next week after scheduled weekend talks. He is scheduled to speak at the Atlantic Council on Monday, according to the think tank's website.
