CIA's Burns meets with Qatar, Egypt, Israeli officials for Gaza talks
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American, Qatari, Israeli and Egyptian officials met in Paris to discuss a ways of implementing a ceasefire in Gaza, without the presence of Gaza representatives.
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Palestinians look at the destruction after an Israeli strike in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024 (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
AFP reported on Sunday, citing sources familiar with the matter, that the Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency, along with Egyptian, Qatari, and Israeli officials, met in Paris to discuss ways of implementing a ceasefire in Gaza.
French authorities were in contact with these four countries to negotiate "a cessation of hostilities" between "Israel" and the Palestinian resistance in the besieged Gaza Strip, the sources said.
On Friday, an intel source informed AFP that CIA chief William Burns is scheduled to meet counterparts from "Israel" and Egypt, along with Qatar's prime minister, "in the coming days."
The source confirmed a report issued by The Washington Post a week ago, stating that US President Joe Biden is dispatching Burns to negotiate the release of remaining Israeli captives in exchange for a ceasefire.
Read morre: CIA, Mossad chiefs heading to Europe to discuss exchange deal: Report
The New York Times reported on Saturday that negotiators led by the US were nearing an agreement in which "Israel" would halt its aggression on Gaza for approximately two months, and in exchange, more than 100 captives would be released.
Quoting unidentified US officials, the report stated that negotiators had formulated a draft agreement, which would be deliberated upon in Paris on Sunday.
On Friday, US President Joe Biden held talks with Qatar's emir to discuss efforts aimed at freeing the captives, as announced by the White House. However, a cautionary note was added, stating that "imminent developments" were unlikely.
Resistance turns down one-sided proposal
Last Tuesday, Hamas Resistance movement rejected an Israeli one-sided proposal for a two-month ceasefire, noting that the unconditional release of remaining captives requires that a permanent ceasefire comes into force.
"Israel" reportedly offered to implement a two-month ceasefire on the condition that the Palestinian resistance releases all remaining captives in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
As part of the proposal, Yahya al-Sinwar and other high-ranking leaders in Gaza would have the opportunity to relocate to other countries.
A source who spoke on condition of anonymity told the Associated Press that leaders of the Palestinian resistance refused to leave Gaza and are insisting on "Israel's" complete withdrawal from the territory, along with the allowance for Palestinians to return to their homes.
Is Qatar's position being compromised?
Doha recently proposed a month-long truce in the Gaza Strip, aiming for a gradual release of the Israeli captives, The Financial Times reported on Friday.
Report stated that Qatar, Egypt, and the United States are currently engaged in efforts to persuade "Israel" to agree to Hamas' conditions for a permanent ceasefire.
FT further reported that Hamas sought to use the agreement as a basis for a future permanent ceasefire in Gaza. However, "Israel" rejected Hamas' insistence on a continuous ceasefire, leading to a deadlock in the negotiations, as per the report.
"Israel rejected ... the ceasefire at the end. That was the Israelis' last feedback to Qatar … Hamas said everything else is fine, but there has to be a permanent ceasefire at the end. Now the mediators are working on the Israelis to convince them to accept a permanent ceasefire, including the Americans," one of the people familiar with the talks said as quoted by The Financial Times.
Read more: Exclusive: Progress is being made in ceasefire talks, modest however
On Friday, the Qatari government slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for jeopardizing the ongoing talks.
The crisis unfolded after Netanyahu criticized Qatar during a meeting with the families of the captives earlier this week, Israeli journalist Barak Ravid wrote on X.
Israeli officials are claiming that Qatar is not exerting sufficient pressure on Hamas to secure flexibility and agreement on a new deal for the release of captives in Gaza, Ravid explains.
The Qatari government said that such criticism could seriously undermine the delicate negotiations for the release of the hostages.
So far, the Israeli aggression on Gaza has claimed the lives of at least 26,400 civilians.
