Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns plans to meet with representatives from Israel, Egypt, and Qatar in the coming days for talks to secure the potential release of the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza. It will be the second time the director has traveled for this purpose this year.
The Washington Post reports that Israel is proposing a two-month ceasefire to allow for a phased release of hostages taken by Hamas following the Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel.
Burns "has been... involved in helping us with the hostage deal that was in place and trying to help us pursue another one," Burns reportedly said to White House national security spokesman John Kirby.
The CIA has an ongoing policy of not disclosing its director's travel plans, but reports are that the meetings will take place somewhere in Western Europe.
Burns has been tasked by Biden to speak with the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. He will also be speaking with Mossad director David Barnea, and Egyptian intelligence director Abbas Kamel as well. Israel's retaliatory campaign into Gaza is now rolling into its fourth month.
White House Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk was in Cairo this week for ongoing discussions on the release of hostages.
Egypt and Qatar have been keen in keeping the lines of communication open between Hamas and the rest of the world.
The two countries were also instrumental in helping secure a temporary pause and securing the release of some hostages back in November.
A Mystery Speaker?
This recent overture from Egypt and Qatar comes after the release of a tape recording of a voice alleged to be that of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disparaging the Qataris.
The speaker describes Qatar as "problematic" and expresses that they are "very mad at the Americans" for renewing the lease for a military base in Qatar without extracting concessions from Qatar for the release of hostages from the country.
No news outlet has been able to independently verify if the voice heard on the recording is that of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"I don't think I'm gonna comment on leaked comments attributed to another foreign leader," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters aboard Air Force One. "The Israeli people want their loved ones back, we want to make sure we get our American hostages back to their families where they belong," Kirby said. "There is a lot of energy being put at this across the region, with our Israeli counterparts as well as our other counterparts, including the Qataris. And we're just going to keep working at that."
