CIA Director William Burns will soon travel to Europe to try and negotiate an extended cease-fire deal that would free the remaining hostages held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, according to media reports, as pressure mounts on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure the release of those prisoners who have been held for more than three months.
Mr. Burns reportedly will meet with key Israeli and Egyptian intelligence officials, along with officials from Qatar, which has been the key intermediary between Israel and Hamas. The Palestinian militant group took about 250 hostages during its Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel. About 100 were freed during a brief cease-fire last November. More than 130 remain in captivity. Some have died while in Hamas’ custody.
The Washington Post first reported Mr. Burns’ upcoming trip to Europe, citing unnamed U.S. officials. Negotiations will reportedly focus on the release of all remaining hostages in exchange for another cessation in hostilities between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the epicenter of fighting between the two sides.
The two agreed to a weeklong cease-fire in December, but the Netanyahu government has said it will continue its Gaza campaign until Hamas is destroyed as a military and political force.
Mr. Burns’ involvement in hostage negotiations underscores the growing pressure on Israel and its allies, including the U.S., to secure the release of the remaining prisoners. Palestinian health officials now say nearly 26,000 people have been killed in the Israeli counterattack after the Hamas rampage, with the majority of the dead civilians — figures that cannot be independently confirmed.
Earlier this week, dozens of family members of hostages held by Hamas stormed a committee meeting in Israel’s parliament and demanded a deal to secure the hostages’ release. Mr. Netanyahu faces intense domestic pressure to free the prisoners even as the
Israeli Defense Forces continue their campaign in Gaza to crush Hamas.
However, growing tensions between Israel and Qatar could complicate the effort. Earlier this week, Mr. Netanyahu was reportedly captured on a leaked audio clip calling the involvement of Qatar “problematic.” The Gulf Arab state has long allowed the political wing of Hamas to operate within its borders.
Qatari officials blasted those comments Thursday.
“We are appalled by the alleged remarks attributed to the Israeli prime minister in various media reports about Qatar’s mediation role,” Majed Al Ansari, a spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry, wrote in a social media post. “If the reported remarks are found to be true, the Israeli PM would only be obstructing and undermining the mediation process for reasons that appear to serve his political career instead of prioritizing saving innocent lives, including Israeli hostages.”
Asked about the comments, an Israeli government spokesperson said Israel “cannot go into details regarding the efforts and steps taken to release the hostages,” according to Reuters.
Other Israeli officials seemed to defend Mr. Netanyahu’s position and blasted the Qatari government.
“Qatar encourages terrorism, finances terrorism, pushes terror and is playing a double game,” conservative Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich during a speech Thursday, according to the Times of Israel. “Qatar is the biggest obstacle for returning the hostages.
We could get all 136 hostages tomorrow if Qatar would give Hamas an ultimatum to return all the hostages and if the West would give Qatar an ultimatum to do that.”
• This article is based in part on wire service reports.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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