The ongoing negotiations for a cease-fire and the release of Israeli hostages have hit a roadblock as Hamas rejected the latest proposal put forth by Israel, Qatar, and Egypt. The C.I.A. director, William J. Burns, expressed his disappointment at the lack of progress in talks during a speech at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas.
Earlier this month, Burns traveled to Cairo and presented what he called “a far-reaching proposal” to Egyptian and Qatari negotiators, who then took it to Hamas. The proposal included an offer to allow some Gazans to return to the northern part of the enclave, a key demand from Hamas. However, Hamas has not accepted the proposal so far.
Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service, expressed regret over Hamas’s rejection of the proposal, stating that it proves the group’s lack of interest in reaching a deal. American officials, speaking anonymously, revealed that Hamas may not have enough women and civilian hostages to meet Israel’s criteria for the release of 40 hostages over six weeks.
In response, a senior Hamas official accused Israel of seeking to free captive soldiers for a lower price than demanded by the group. Hamas has proposed releasing fewer than 20 living hostages in an initial six-week phase of the cease-fire deal, focusing on the elderly and women.
Mr. Burns, who played a key role in previous hostage release negotiations, expressed uncertainty about the current talks’ success. He also emphasized the Biden administration’s desire for Israel to avoid escalating conflict with Iran, following a failed Iranian attack last weekend. Despite the tensions, Burns praised Israel’s military superiority in intercepting Iranian drones and missiles, with only a few causing minimal damage.
As the negotiations continue, the fate of the hostages and the possibility of a cease-fire remain uncertain. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
