CIA Director William Burns discussed a potential agreement during a meeting in Doha on Sunday that would entail a 28-day ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, according to Israeli sources reported by the American media outlet Axios on Tuesday.
The proposed plan includes a four-week halt in fighting in Gaza, as well as the “release of about eight women of all ages or men over the age of 50 held by Hamas,” along with the release of dozens of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons, Axios specifies. If realized, this agreement could revive negotiations for a broader deal while helping to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
Besides Mr. Burns, the meeting included Israeli intelligence chief David Barnea and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, according to Axios.
Just hours before the talks began, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi proposed a partial agreement involving a 12-day ceasefire and the release of four hostages. Axios reports that the three officials discussed ways to expand on the Egyptian proposal during their meeting.
Meanwhile, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the two sides discussed a new framework that “incorporates previous proposals” while also taking into account “recent developments in the region.”
However, it is unlikely an agreement will be reached before the final results of the presidential election, set for November 5, are known.
Additionally, the proposed plan does not meet Hamas’s main demand, which involves a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to hostilities. This condition has been categorically rejected by Mr. Netanyahu, who reiterated on Monday that he would only accept a partial agreement, not an end to the war.
Comments