CIA chief arrives in Egypt ahead of Hamas delegation for Gaza talks
The arrival of CIA chief William Burns to Cairo may indicate that not all is lost, as Washington keeps pushing for Hamas to accept the hostage release deal.
CIA Director Bill Burns arrived Friday in Cairo as parties are waiting for Hamas to deliver its response to the Egyptian-brokered hostage-release and Gaza cease-fire deal. A delegation of Hamas officials is expected in the Egyptian capital Saturday.
Reuters cited four sources, including an Egyptian one, confirming Burns’ arrival, though the CIA declined to comment. Burns has been leading American mediation efforts for a deal. Egypt’s state-affiliated Al Qahera news reported Friday that a Hamas delegation is also expected there but did not offer any details on the composition of the delegation or on its ranking.
Israeli Channel 12 cited an unnamed Israeli official who expressed frustration with Burns’ decision to arrive before Hamas has even responded to the deal, potentially raising expectations that a deal is close when one might not be.
The deal currently on the table is divided into three phases. The first phase would see the release of 33 hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners incarcerated in Israel. Displaced Palestinians would be permitted to return to the north of the Gaza Strip, as Israeli troops withdraw from urban centers. The second phase would see talks take place for a prolonged period of calm and the release of the rest of the hostages in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners. The last phase would include an exchange of bodies on both sides.
According to Ynet, Israel is pessimistic over the chances of sealing the three-phase deal. An unnamed senior diplomatic source told Ynet that "even though the mediators are using an optimistic tone for the moment, Israel did not hear Hamas changing its extreme positions."
The current deal was presented to Hamas last Sunday and is composed mainly of compromises suggested by Israel. At first Israel expected a response by Hamas either Tuesday or Wednesday, but so far no official response has arrived from the group. Citing Egyptian sources, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Israel has given Hamas one week to agree to the deal on the table or it will launch its long-pledged offensive in Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah. The report did not specify when exactly the ultimatum was given. Israel’s war cabinet convened Thursday evening to discuss the deal on the table, but there are no indications that an ultimatum was discussed at that meeting.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this week that Israel intends to enter Rafah "with or without a deal." During his meetings this week in Israel with Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and other Israeli officials, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken campaigned against such a plan. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said on Friday that Washington has not yet seen a comprehensive plan on Israel's thinking for a potential military operation in Rafah.
Citing American officials, Politico reported Friday evening that the Israeli military has informed aid groups active in Gaza and the Biden administration of a plan to begin moving people from Rafah to other locations ahead of an operation. The Israel Defense Forces, it was said, sent these aid groups a map of the area where Gazans need to be evacuated to, saying an invasion will move ahead “soon,” but it did not give a specific date.
