CIA Director Bill Burns is slated to soon meet in Europe with David Barnea, the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, according to three people familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks.
The meeting will focus on the release of hostages in exchange for a pause in hostilities in Gaza. The administration’s hope is that an agreement could lead to a extended cease-fire that could eventually bring an end to the conflict, according to a US official.
The CIA and White House National Security Council declined to comment on the meeting.
Egypt and Qatar have brokered past agreements between Israel and Hamas.
Burns’ trip comes after a visit to the Mideast by White House senior envoy Brett McGurk this week focused on the winning the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza.
McGurk has also been laying the groundwork for another trip to the region by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who could make his fifth visit to the Middle East since the start of the Israel-Hamas war next week.
