- CIA Director Bill Burns heads to Europe to negotiate a hostage release in Gaza, involving Israel, Qatar, and Egypt as intermediaries.
- Deal may include the release of all 130 hostages, including six Americans, and the return of deceased hostages’ remains.
- Timing is sensitive due to recent tensions between Israel and Qatar, but U.S. officials downplay the impact on negotiations and emphasize Qatar’s importance as a partner.
Additional Coverage:
- CIA director headed abroad for Gaza hostage talks: US officials (abcnews.go.com)
CIA Director Bill Burns is set to travel to Europe to meet with Middle Eastern officials in an effort to secure an agreement for the release of all hostages held in Gaza since Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7. The negotiations will involve counterparts from Israel, Qatar, and Egypt, who have served as intermediaries in the conflict. While the specific details of the proposed deal are not yet known, officials are confident that a diplomatic agreement could lead to the release of all detainees. Previously, it was believed that some hostages were held by other groups and that Hamas may not be willing to release captured Israeli soldiers. Currently, there are approximately 130 hostages imprisoned in Gaza, including six Americans.
The negotiations will also aim to secure the return of the remains of deceased hostages, which the Israeli government claims are being held in Gaza. The FBI is investigating the deaths of at least two Americans whose bodies are believed to be in the enclave. Bill Burns, who has taken the lead in the hostage negotiations for the Biden administration, has traveled for face-to-face talks with Israel and other mediators on multiple occasions. Before his role as CIA Director, Burns had extensive experience in foreign diplomacy, serving as ambassador to Jordan and Russia, as well as overseeing the Middle East as an assistant secretary of state.
The timing of Burns’ engagement is potentially sensitive, as an audio recording was recently released in which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Qatar’s role in the negotiations and its ties to Hamas. Qatar expressed its displeasure with the comments, but U.S. officials downplayed the impact of the dispute on the negotiations, stating that Qatar remains a crucial partner in the process.
If a deal is reached, the release of hostages is expected to occur in waves, similar to a previous agreement reached in late November. However, this method increases the risk that the deal may unravel once it is put into practice. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other high-level U.S. officials attempted to extend the previous ceasefire, but after seven days of hostage releases, Hamas resumed firing on Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu, accusing Hamas of reneging on their promise to release all captives, ordered combat operations to resume. U.S. officials recognize that a new agreement would likely require a longer timeframe to minimize the risks of failure.
Read More About This Story:
- CIA director headed abroad for Gaza hostage talks: US officials (abcnews.go.com)