According to an official familiar with the planning, preparations are being made for another round of talks regarding the Gaza ceasefire and hostage situation. The talks are expected to involve CIA Director Bill Burns and other mediators early next week, with the location yet to be determined.
National security advisor Jake Sullivan mentioned that Burns is ready to re-engage following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent visit to Washington, DC. The discussions, known as quad meetings, will include Burns, Israeli Mossad Director David Barnea, Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al Thani. Subsequently, Egyptian and Qatari leaders will have direct engagement with Hamas.
Officials caution about the delicate and evolving nature of these talks. The upcoming meeting, if it takes place, could signal progress in the ceasefire and hostage negotiations that have been ongoing since the last cessation of hostilities in late November.
An Israeli delegation, initially scheduled to depart on Thursday to convey Israel's latest response to the mediators, is likely to postpone its trip until at least Friday due to the rescheduling of Netanyahu's meeting with President Joe Biden to Thursday afternoon. The source familiar with the negotiations mentioned that Netanyahu prefers to meet with Biden before the Israeli delegation formally presents its response to the mediators.
