CIA Director Bill Burns has put forth a new proposal aimed at bridging the gaps in the ongoing negotiations to achieve a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, as well as secure the release of Israeli hostages held by the group. The proposal was presented in Cairo over the weekend, with the United States advocating for Israel to release a higher number of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the expected release of 40 Israeli hostages in the initial phase of a three-stage ceasefire agreement.
Previous discussions had centered around the potential release of approximately 700 Palestinian prisoners, including many serving life sentences. The negotiations in Cairo involved officials from Qatar, Egypt, and Israel, in addition to CIA Director Burns. Hamas representatives also engaged with officials from Egypt's Intelligence Service during the talks.
One key point of contention is the return of Palestinian residents from northern Gaza who have relocated to the south. The U.S. is pushing for their unrestricted return to the north, a demand that Israel has thus far resisted. Israel has insisted on conducting inspections of Palestinians moving north and maintaining IDF troop presence in central Gaza.
Following the presentation of the new proposal, all parties involved agreed to review the details. The proposal will be conveyed to Hamas leadership in Gaza, which holds decision-making authority for the group. However, communication with Hamas leaders, believed to be concealed in Gaza's extensive underground tunnel network, poses challenges and delays in obtaining a response.
A senior Hamas official expressed the group's intention to return to Cairo for further discussions once the opportunity arises, although a specific timeline for the next meeting remains uncertain.
