CIA director floated month-long Gaza ceasefire, hostage deal in Doha
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CIA Director Bill Burns. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty
CIA Director Bill Burns discussed a new formulation for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal in a meeting on Sunday with Israeli and Qatari counterparts: a month-long pause in the fighting, with Hamas releasing around 8 hostages and Israel releasing dozens of Palestinian prisoners, according to three Israeli officials.
Why it matters: A partial deal could break a two-month deadlock in the ceasefire talks, jump-start negotiations for a more comprehensive agreement, improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza and free some of the hostages held in Gaza.
Reality check: A breakthrough is unlikely before the presidential election, and both Israel and Hamas will likely adjust their positions based on the results.
- The plan also does not address Hamas' key demand that any deal involve an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war.
- But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that he would only agree to a partial deal, not to an end to the war. Those two positions are irreconcilable.
- "Israel agrees to a temporary pause, but Hamas wants a pause that would open a process that would lead to irreversible Israeli steps. If neither sides softens its position there isn't going to be a deal," a senior Israeli official tells Axios.
Driving the news: Burns met Sunday in Doha with Qatari Prime Minister Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and Mossad director David Barnea.
- Several hours before the talks began, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi confirmed publicly that Egypt had proposed a partial deal involving a 12-day ceasefire and the release of four hostages.
- Burns, al-Thani, and Barnea had already been developing the idea of a partial deal, and discussed ways to build on the Egyptian idea during their meeting on Sunday, the Israeli officials say.
Zoom in: The plan includes a month-long pause in fighting in Gaza, the release of roughly 8 women of all ages or men over the age of 50 that are held by Hamas, and the release of several dozen Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.
- The Israeli prime minister's office said in a statement that the sides discussed "a new unified framework that integrates previous proposals and also takes into account the main issues and recent developments in the region."
Between the lines: U.S. officials hoped the killing by Israel of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar — a key Israeli war aim — would make Israel more willing to move toward ending the war.
- Israeli officials, meanwhile, hoped it would improve the chances of Hamas agreeing to a smaller-scale deal — though they remain skeptical.
What to watch: Qatari and Egyptian mediators are expected to meet with Hamas officials in the coming days to discuss the new plan and the path forward.
- Burns is expected to travel to Cairo later this week to discuss the issue with Egypt's new intelligence chief, Hassan Rashad, a source with knowledge of the issue said.
Go deeper: U.S. "deeply concerned" new Israeli laws will worsen Gaza crisis
