WASHINGTON – CIA Director William Burns arrived Tuesday in Qatar as US officials scramble to free Americans still held hostage by Hamas terrorists.
Burns is expected to discuss a possible extension of the five-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as frustration grows in Washington that only one American has been released since Israel halted its incursion on Friday.
A total of eight US citizens and one permanent resident remain in custody as Israeli forces try to expel the terrorist group from the coastal territory it has controlled since 2007.
Burns is expected to meet with Israeli and Egyptian intelligence chiefs and with Qatari officials working to negotiate the release of about 240 people kidnapped during Hamas’s October 7 surprise attack in southern Israel.
The White House said it was uncertain how many US hostages were still alive, but the two missing women appeared eligible for release under Hamas’ decision to release women and children in exchange for Israel ending its attacks and freeing Palestinian prisoners.
“Director Burns is in Doha for meetings on the Israel-Hamas conflict, including discussions on hostages,” a source familiar with the matter told The Post.
The CIA director has been instrumental in steering the US approach to the conflict. CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images
The source declined to confirm reports that Burns was meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Sheik Mohammed Bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani, Mossad director David Barnea and Abbas Kamel of Egypt’s intelligence service.
During the meeting with Burns, Barnea stressed to his colleagues that Israel was not interested in making a new deal until all the women and children detained in Gaza had been released, Axios reported.
Intel chiefs are reportedly considering a possible three-day extension to the current pause.
Israel and Hamas agreed on Monday to an additional two-day pause in the fighting, meaning fighting may resume Thursday morning Israel time if no additional ceasefire is arranged.
The key for Burns is securing the release of additional American hostages after 4-year-old Abigail Edan was freed over the weekend.
Israel’s Mossad director David Barnea will reportedly attend the meeting in Doha as well. AFP via Getty Images
The White House said on Tuesday it had no indication that Hamas was strategically holding other Americans as it freed Israelis and other nations.
“We want to see all the hostages out… and so we will continue to work with Israel, with Qatar, with Egypt to see if we can extend this further,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Air Force One during the presidential flight. to Colorado Tuesday.
Kirby added that “there’s no sign at all that Hamas is trying to use leverage or something to keep Americans from leaving.”
“I think it’s important to remember a few things,” Kirby continued. “One, the pool of Americans is relatively small and the pool of eligible Americans now – women and children – is even smaller.
William Burns has led the CIA since March 2021. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
“Number two, we cannot assume that Hamas has ready access to everyone overnight, or that all Americans are being held by Hamas, and certainly not that they are in the same place. So we don’t have perfect visibility of where they are. We know Hamas can get all the hostages if it wants to and it has the ability to do it.”
President Biden has said the initial four-day pause that began Nov. 24 came with the understanding that Israel could extend the pause for each day Hamas released 10 additional hostages.
On Tuesday evening, the White House tweeted from Biden’s account at X an aspirational message about postwar peace.
“Hamas launches terrorist attacks because they fear nothing but Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace,” the tweet said. “To continue the path of terror, terrorism, murder, and war is to give Hamas what they are looking for. We cannot do that.”
Under current arrangements, Hamas is expected to release about 90 of the 240 hostages it took in the bloody October 7 surprise attack.
Meanwhile, Israel initially agreed to release 150 Palestinian prisoners under the original agreement and agreed to release another 60 under the extension.
Qatar’s involvement is significant because the Middle Eastern country has repeatedly acted as a mediator between Israel and Hamas — while hosting the terrorist group’s political leaders in exile.
Burns previously held talks with Sheikh Mohammed and Barnea in Doha on Nov 9.
About 1,200 civilians were killed in the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas, including 33 Americans.
Israel has responded by carrying out punishing bombings against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip and launching a ground invasion to eradicate the terrorist group and its infrastructure.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
