CIA chief returns to Egypt in last-ditch effort for Gaza deal: What we know
The Israeli press reports that CIA chief William Burns will head to Cairo Thursday for more talks on a possible deal between Israel and Hamas.
CIA chief William Burns will reportedly travel to Cairo this week for talks on a possible deal for a hostage release and a cease-fire in Gaza.
On Wednesday Israel’s public broadcaster Kan quoted a source privy to the talks as confirming that Burns will travel to Egypt tomorrow. The CIA chief met in Doha Sunday with Mossad chief David Barnea and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed al-Thani.
After Sunday’s meeting, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “The sides discussed a new unified framework that integrates previous proposals and also takes into account the main issues and recent developments in the region.” It went on, “The discussions between the mediators and Hamas will continue in the coming days in order to evaluate the feasibility of talks and the continued effort to advance a deal.”
On Oct. 20, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar traveled to Cairo, where he met with newly appointed head of Egyptian intelligence Hassan Rashad to discuss the possibility of a deal between Israel and Hamas. It was the first visit to Egypt by a senior Israeli official since the killing of Hamas head Yahya Sinwar Oct. 17 in the south of the Gaza Strip.
On Monday, Netanyahu denied reports that Israel had received an offer for Hamas to free four hostages in exchange for a two-day cease-fire. A statement from his office read that Israel had not received such a proposal and if it had, “the prime minister would have accepted it immediately.”
Ynet reported Saturday that Barnea has been working with the mediators on a new proposal for a deal. Citing sources close to the talks, the report read that Israel is pessimistic about the chances of Hamas accepting a new proposal, as the group continues to insist on an end to the war and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egyptian border with Gaza as well as the Rafah crossing point. Netanyahu had previously said that Israel will only agree to a deal under which the Israeli military maintains control over the corridor.
