CIA Director William J. Burns attends a hearing of the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to Examine Global Threats, Washington, DC, March 11, 2024 (Photo: CNP/INSTARimages)
CIA Director William Burns visited Qatar on Sunday night, as hostage deal negotiations between Hamas and Israel were on the verge of collapse after talks between a Hamas delegation and Egyptian mediators ended without a breakthrough.
Multiple media outlets quoted sources as saying, “Burns is on his way to Doha for an emergency meeting with the Qatari prime minister aimed at putting maximum pressure on Israel and Hamas to continue negotiations.'' .
A Hamas delegation left Cairo on Sunday for Doha to continue talks after talks with Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel that were expected to bring a final breakthrough to negotiations ended without any results. I headed.
Several Arabic media outlets reported on Saturday. Hamas was ready to accept It was prepared to accept the latest offer and agree to at least the first phase of a deal that would free some 30 hostages without guarantees that the war would end.
Israeli media quoted officials as saying that it was no longer meaningful to talk about talks in terms of “optimism” or “pessimism”, adding that reaching an agreement was “very unlikely”.
Israeli ministerial officials told the media Sunday night that unless there is another U-turn in the protracted negotiations, The long-planned invasion of Rafah It was already close at hand.
Arabic channels reported that the talks broke down as Hamas continued to press for its demands to end the current war and allow refugees to return to the northern Gaza Strip after the hostages were released. Israel reportedly refused to sign an agreement on these terms.
Hamas said in an official statement that “the organization has presented its answers to the Egyptian and Qatari mediators and thorough and serious discussions have taken place.”
“We will meet the national demands of our people, ending the invasion once and for all, leading to a withdrawal from the entire Gaza Strip, increasing aid, returning displaced persons, beginning reconstruction, and completing the prisoner exchange agreement. We confirm our desire to reach an agreement,'' the terrorist organization added.
Israel's war cabinet met in Jerusalem on Sunday night to discuss Israel's response to the latest developments, as the invasion of Rafah, which Israeli leaders had been anticipating for months, grows larger than ever. .
According to Israeli media reports, the Egyptian mediation team expected a formal response from the Israeli side by Monday.
Security officials told Ynet News: “This is not a surprising step. They do not want an agreement,” but at the same time warned that “it will not have a positive impact on the situation in Lebanon.”
Reports of an impending hostage trade galvanized families of hostages and anti-government protesters. Protests were held across the country On Saturday night, they called for an agreement to be reached as soon as possible to free the hostages.
