William J. Burns, the C.I.A. director, was scheduled to reach in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday for a brand new spherical of negotiations aimed toward liberating extra hostages held in Gaza, in keeping with U.S. officers.
Mr. Burns and David Barnea, the pinnacle of the Mossad, Israel’s spy service, are scheduled to satisfy with Qatari officers. Qatar, which hosts Hamas’s political management in Doha, has been a mediator within the talks between Israel and Hamas.
Qatar introduced on Monday that Israel and Hamas had agreed to extend a pause in fighting for 2 extra days to alternate extra hostages and prisoners and to permit extra help to return into Gaza.
One U.S. official mentioned Mr. Burns’s talks in Qatar could be meant to construct on that settlement.
U.S. officials have been deeply involved in pushing for a deal to release hostages taken throughout the Hamas-led assaults on Israel on Oct. 7. Mr. Burns traveled to Doha on Nov. 9 as he and Mr. Barnea held talks with Qatari officers who’ve been engaged on the difficulty.
Hamas and Israel finally reached a deal on Nov. 21, and exchanges started later that week. Through the first 4 days of the truce, 50 Israelis or twin nationals had been launched beneath the framework of the deal, and an extra 19 hostages — 17 Thais, one Filipino and one Russian-Israeli twin citizen — had been launched by separate negotiations. In alternate for the discharge of the Israelis and twin nationals, Israel paused its army marketing campaign in Gaza, allowed extra help to stream into the enclave and launched some Palestinian prisoners.
Some American officers have expressed hope that the non permanent pause can be extended into something of a more permanent cease-fire, although Israeli officers have mentioned their army marketing campaign should proceed.
A spokeswoman for the C.I.A. mentioned the company doesn’t touch upon the director’s journey.
Israel has been involved that a number of the Hamas hostage releases have separated youngsters from their moms or damaged aside siblings. All through the talks this month, Israeli officers have pressed for Hamas to launch total households and over the weekend confused to American officers that they didn’t imagine Hamas was residing as much as the cut price.
These considerations had been addressed sufficient on Monday for the pause to be prolonged and for the events to comply with extra talks in Doha.
Mr. Burns was chosen to characterize the US within the hostage talks after Israel chosen Mr. Barnea to work with the Qatari authorities to safe a deal. Neither Mr. Burns nor Mr. Barnea has negotiated straight with Hamas officers, as a substitute working by Qatari intermediaries.
President Biden has usually used Mr. Burns as a secret negotiator, benefiting from his long diplomatic experience and the C.I.A.’s coverage of attempting to maintain the director’s journey secret.
However Mr. Burns is especially properly fitted to the present negotiations. A former ambassador to Jordan, he has a deep stage of belief with leaders throughout the Center East, in keeping with U.S., Israeli and Arab officers. Throughout his go to to Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Qatar earlier this month, he centered largely on constructing assist for an settlement to launch hostages.
