The heads of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Israel’s Mossad held talks with Qatar’s prime minister in Doha to build on the extended truce between Israel and Hamas.
The meeting aimed to advance discussions on the humanitarian pause agreement and explore possibilities for the next phase of a potential deal. The outcome of the talks, involving CIA Director William Burns, Mossad’s David Barnea, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, remains unclear.
The discussions, which included Egyptian officials, focused on the Israel-Hamas conflict and hostage-related matters. The meeting occurred a day after Qatar announced a two-day extension of the original four-day truce deal in Gaza. Qatar has been leading negotiations between Hamas and Israel.
The truce brought relief to Gaza after seven weeks of heavy Israeli bombardment in response to a violent incident on October 7 by Hamas gunmen. The conflict has resulted in casualties, and ongoing negotiations involve the release of hostages by Hamas and detainees by Israel.
Extended Gaza Truce Not Enough To Meet Aid Needs Says UN Chief
Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has characterized the extended truce between Israel and Hamas as “a glimpse of hope and humanity.”
However, he cautioned that the additional time is insufficient to address the urgent aid needs in the Gaza Strip. The initial four-day truce has been prolonged by two days, marking a pause in the seven weeks of conflict.
Guterres expressed optimism that the extension would allow for increased humanitarian aid delivery to the suffering population in Gaza. He emphasized the necessity of additional crossings, including the Kerem Shalom border controlled by Israel, to facilitate aid distribution.
The United Nations aims to transform the temporary truce into a comprehensive humanitarian ceasefire through ongoing negotiations. Guterres reiterated the call for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages held by Hamas. Despite intensified aid delivery during the truce, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with significant challenges in meeting the needs of the displaced population.
