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(TJV) The Washington Post has revealed an unexpected development in the Israel-Hamas conflict, reporting that President Biden plans to send CIA Director William J. Burns to assist in ceasefire negotiations. Unnamed officials have disclosed that Burns will travel to Europe to 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.
Israel’s proposal for a two-month pause in the fighting, considered the most significant ceasefire plan since the start of the Gaza war, emerged on Monday and Tuesday. The multi-phase plan includes the release of Palestinian prisoners, safe passage for Hamas leaders, and ultimately the release of all captives in Gaza.
Upon news of the proposed deal, international headlines reported Hamas rejecting it, demanding Israeli forces withdraw first. Israeli media, however, indicated ongoing engagement on the issue, with officials stating they hadn’t been notified of Hamas’s rejection.
The involvement of CIA Director Burns in direct negotiations between Israel and Hamas is noteworthy. While Burns has engaged in back-channel diplomacy before, his direct role in these negotiations is unprecedented. Some view this move as sending a message that the White House is engaging with groups involved in mass atrocities against civilians.
Burns’s discussions in Europe are expected to build on phone conversations with counterparts and the efforts of White House Middle East official Brett McGurk, who has held related meetings in Doha and Cairo. The CIA has yet to comment on Burns’s involvement, and reports suggest that Hamas may be open to an Israeli-proposed deal if the International Court of Justice issues a ceasefire ruling reciprocated by Israel. However, given the perception that the U.S. supports Israel with weaponry, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad likely see Washington as a direct party to the conflict on Israel’s side.
