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William J. Burns, the C.I.A. director, arrived in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday for a brand new spherical of negotiations aimed toward releasing extra hostages held in Gaza, in keeping with U.S. officers.
Mr. Burns and David Barnea, the top of the Mossad, Israel’s spy service, are scheduled to satisfy with Qatari officers. Qatar, which hosts Hamas’s political management in Doha, has been a mediator within the talks between Israel and Hamas.
Qatar introduced on Monday that Israel and Hamas had agreed to extend a pause in fighting for 2 further days to trade extra hostages and prisoners and to permit extra help to come back into Gaza.
One U.S. official mentioned Mr. Burns’s talks in Qatar could be meant to construct on that settlement.
U.S. officials have been deeply involved in pushing for a deal to release hostages taken in the course of the Hamas-led assaults on Israel on Oct. 7. Mr. Burns traveled to Doha on Nov. 9 as he and Mr. Barnea held talks with Qatari officers who’ve been engaged on the problem.
Hamas and Israel finally reached a deal on Nov. 21, and exchanges started later that week. Throughout the first 4 days of the truce, 50 Israelis or twin nationals have been launched beneath the framework of the deal, and a further 19 hostages — 17 Thais, one Filipino and one Russian-Israeli twin citizen — have been launched by separate negotiations. In trade for the discharge of the Israelis and twin nationals, Israel paused its army marketing campaign in Gaza, allowed extra help to movement into the enclave and launched some Palestinian prisoners.
Some American officers have expressed hope that the momentary pause can be extended into something of a more permanent cease-fire, although Israeli officers have mentioned their army marketing campaign should proceed.
A spokeswoman for the C.I.A. mentioned the company doesn’t touch upon the director’s journey.
Israel has been involved that among the Hamas hostage releases have separated kids from their moms or damaged aside siblings. All through the talks this month, Israeli officers have pressed for Hamas to launch total households and over the weekend burdened to American officers that they didn’t imagine Hamas was dwelling as much as the cut price.
These issues have been addressed sufficient on Monday for the pause to be prolonged and for the events to comply with further talks in Doha.
Mr. Burns was chosen to characterize the US within the hostage talks after Israel chosen Mr. Barnea to work with the Qatari authorities to safe a deal. Neither Mr. Burns nor Mr. Barnea has negotiated immediately with Hamas officers, as an alternative working by Qatari intermediaries.
President Biden has usually used Mr. Burns as a secret negotiator, benefiting from his long diplomatic experience and the C.I.A.’s coverage of attempting to maintain the director’s journey secret.
However Mr. Burns is especially effectively fitted to the present negotiations. A former ambassador to Jordan, he has a deep stage of belief with leaders throughout the Center East, in keeping with U.S., Israeli and Arab officers. Throughout his go to to Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Qatar earlier this month, he targeted largely on constructing help for an settlement to launch hostages.
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