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William J. Burns, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, is expected to arrive in Doha, Qatar, this week for talks with officials there on reaching a ceasefire in Gaza, according to a United States official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the spy chief's trip.
The visit by chief U.S. negotiator John Burns to the Gulf comes as both sides renew efforts to broker a deal to stop fighting and release Gaza hostages after months of failed efforts. White House Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk will also return to the region this week for the Cairo conference, another U.S. official said.
President Biden's Remarks Last week, he outlined the terms of a new Israeli deal, raising hopes among Israelis and Palestinians that a truce in the nearly eight-month-old war could be reached. But statements by Israeli and Hamas officials in recent days suggest a breakthrough remains elusive.
One of the biggest disagreements between Israel and Hamas is whether the ceasefire agreement will lead to a lasting ceasefire. Biden said Israel's proposal would eventually lead to a “permanent cessation of hostilities,” which Hamas welcomed. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Refusing to end the war Without first destroying Hamas's governing and military capabilities.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Ansari said on Tuesday that Qatar, as the main mediator between the two sides, is “waiting for Israel to come up with a clear position representing the entire government.”
Phase One of Biden's Proposal Called on both sides to temporarily cease fire for six weeks while continuing negotiations to reach a permanent ceasefire agreement.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan said Israel's recent position communicated to the group did not include a permanent ceasefire or a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, both of which Hamas insists on. Mr. Hamdan said Israel only wanted a temporary ceasefire to release the hostages and then resume the war.
He said Hamas had told mediators that the group could not approve a deal that did not include a “serious, concrete agreement” on a permanent ceasefire, a full withdrawal of Israeli troops and a hostage exchange between Israeli and Palestinian prisoners.
“We call on the mediators to take a clear stand against the Israeli occupation,” he said.
