US and Israeli intelligence chiefs to discuss second Gaza hostage deal

CIA director and Israel’s Mossad chief will meet Qatari PM and foreign minister in Europe this weekend, an official said

The US has been trying to secure the release of the more than 100 remaining hostages held in Gaza

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A wall with posters of the hostages, in Tel Aviv, Israel. Photo: Reuters

Published: 3:42am, 26 Jan 2024Updated: 10:21am, 26 Jan 2024

US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director William Burns and his Israeli counterpart will meet Qatari officials in coming days for talks on a second potential Gaza hostage deal, two sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

Burns and the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence service, David Barnea, will meet Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in Europe this weekend, one official briefed on the meeting told Reuters.

Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel will also take part, the second source said.

The Biden administration has been trying to secure the release of the more than 100 remaining hostages taken during Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, which prompted the start of a war in Gaza that is now in its fourth month – although there remains a considerable distance between the two sides’ demands.

The US and Israeli intelligence chiefs have previously met Qatari and Egyptian officials, helping to broker a short-lived truce in November that saw more than 100 hostages freed.

Burns “has been … involved in helping us with the hostage deal that was in place and trying to help us pursue another one,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters travelling with US President Joe Biden aboard Air Force One, referring specific questions to the agency.