The heads of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Israel’s Mossad met in Qatar to address the extension of a truce between Israel and Hamas as well as the captives being held by Hamas in Gaza.
CIA Director William Burns and Mossad Chief David Barnea engaged in talks with Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, on Tuesday. This meeting followed the announcement by Doha of a two-day extension of the original four-day humanitarian pause in Gaza, which had been set to expire.
The last meeting between the intelligence chiefs took place on November 9, focusing on discussions about the parameters of a deal for hostage releases and a pause in the Hamas-Israel conflict in the Gaza Strip.
A positive outcome from previous talks is the release of 81 hostages held in Gaza, seven weeks after their capture during the October 7 attacks on Israel. In return, 180 Palestinians were released from Israeli jails, and substantial humanitarian aid, medical supplies, and fuel were allowed into Gaza.
Despite agreeing to temporary cease-fires, Israel remains steadfast in its determination to eliminate Hamas and its military capabilities. The ongoing Israeli bombardment of Gaza has resulted in a death toll exceeding 15,000 since October 7, with the official death toll in Israel standing at 1,200.
The United States, the biggest supporter of Israel, is seeking to enhance intelligence sharing with Israel, providing valuable information about hostage locations and potential follow-on attacks by Hamas.
Qatar, a gas-rich peninsula in the Persian Gulf, has played a mediating role in talks between Israel and Hamas since the onset of the war.
