US President Joe Biden plans to send CIA Director William Burns to Europe in the coming days for high-level talks aimed at reaching another deal for the release of hostages by the Hamas terror group.
Mr Burns will meet Israeli and Egyptian intelligence chiefs David Barnea and Abbas Kamel, as well as Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. The Washington Post, citing officials close to the matter. US Middle East diplomat Brett McGurk was in Qatar and Egypt this week for discussions on a similar topic.
Israel is said to have offered a two-month ceasefire in exchange for the release of the remaining 136 hostages. A senior Israeli official said the meeting would serve to bridge the gap between Qatari and Egyptian mediators who had worked separately to reach an agreement. The leaders of the deal are expected to discuss the release of all hostages in exchange for a long pause in the war.
A wide gap remains between Israel and Hamas, given that Israel refuses to agree to a permanent cease-fire, and that Hamas will not agree to release the remaining 136 hostages for less. Channel 12 Other conditions from Hamas reportedly include a 10- to 14-day pause before it begins releasing hostages, the release of 100 security prisoners for each hostage released, or the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the Strip until an agreement is reached.
