CIA Director William Burns was in Doha on Thursday to discuss efforts to win the release of hostages in Gaza with the Qatari prime minister and the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, according to a U.S. official.
Quick Read
- CIA Director William Burns visited Doha to discuss efforts to release hostages in Gaza with the Qatari prime minister and the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.
- They are working on negotiations to secure the release of hostages held by the Hamas militant group in Gaza, with the possibility of a ceasefire in exchange for the release of some hostages.
- CIA Director Burns is involved in these discussions, although he is not playing a lead role.
- Additionally, German Foreign Minister Baerbock is traveling to the Middle East to focus on the release of German hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and efforts to prevent further conflict escalation.
- Chancellor Olaf Scholz has also been involved in diplomatic efforts in the region.
- Furthermore, Saudi Arabia has sent humanitarian aid to Gaza in the form of a cargo plane carrying 35 tons of food and aid through Egypt.
The Associated Press has the story:
CIA Director William Burns is in Qatar working to release hostages
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP)
CIA Director William Burns was in Doha on Thursday to discuss efforts to win the release of hostages in Gaza with the Qatari prime minister and the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, according to a U.S. official.
Burns met with Mossad chief David Barnea and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.
The Hamas militant group that rules Gaza is holding what officials estimate to be some 240 hostages seized in Hamas’s deadly Oct. 7 incursion into Israel. International officials are believed to be pursuing a deal in which Hamas could free some hostages in exchange for a pause in Israel’s air, ground and sea assault on Gaza.
Qatar is a frequent go-between in international dealings with Hamas, and some top Hamas political leaders make their home in the Gulf country.
The U.S. official stressed Burns was not playing a lead role in the negotiations.
GERMANY’S FOREIGN MINISTER BACK IN THE MIDDLE EAST
BERLIN — German Foreign Minister Baerbock is traveling to the Middle East for the third time in a month with stop-overs planned in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Germany’s foreign ministry said Thursday Baerbock’s meetings will focus on the release of the German hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, the humanitarian situation there, and efforts to prevent a regional conflagration of the conflict.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has also traveled to Israel and other countries in the region since the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
SAUDI ARABIA SENDS CARGO PLANE LOADED WITH FOOD, AID FOR GAZA
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia has sent a cargo plane loaded with 35 tons of food and humanitarian aid to Egypt for delivery to the Gaza Strip.
The state-run Saudi Press Agency announced the first such aid shipment from the kingdom on Thursday.
Before the onset of the Israel-Hamas war, Saudi Arabia was in talks with the U.S. to normalize relations with Israel in return for an American defense pact, aid in setting up a civilian nuclear program and major progress toward resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Saudi Arabia has condemned the violence and called for a cease-fire.
Several countries have flown aid for Gaza to El-Arish, in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, which borders Gaza and Israel. Under a diplomatic arrangement, the aid is shipped overland through Egypt’s Rafah crossing with Gaza after being inspected inside Israel.
Aid workers say the hundreds of trucks allowed into Gaza in recent weeks are nowhere near enough to meet the mounting needs of the territory’s 2.3 million Palestinians.
