US President Joe Biden plans to send CIA Director William Burns to Europe in the coming days for high-level talks to reach further agreement on the release of hostages held by the terrorist group Hamas.
Mr. Burns will meet with Israeli and Egyptian intelligence chiefs David Barnea and Abbas Kamel as well as Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, The Washington Post reported, citing officials familiar with the matter. US Middle East diplomat Brett McGurk was in Qatar and Egypt this week for talks on the same topic.
Israel reportedly 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 gaps between Qatari and Egyptian mediators who were working separately on a deal. The deal that leaders are expected to discuss calls for the release of all hostages in exchange for a long lull in the war.
A major rift remains between Israel and Hamas, with Israel refusing to agree to a permanent ceasefire and Hamas unwilling to release the remaining 136 hostages in exchange for less. Channel 12 reported that Hamas' other conditions include a 10- to 14-day pause before the hostage release begins, the release of 100 security prisoners for each hostage released, or a withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip while the agreement is in effect .