Media: CIA director proposes 28-day ceasefire in Gaza and exchange of hostages

US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William Burns proposed at the Doha talks a new form of ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, stipulating a 28-day ceasefire and the exchange of eight hostages for dozens of prisoners. Palestinian people. This was reported by the news portal Axios in connection with Israeli officials.

They said Burns' proposal includes a four-week ceasefire and the exchange of eight female or male prisoners over 50 years old for several dozen Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

The publication noted that this scenario could bring ceasefire negotiations out of the deadlock they have reached in recent months and allow them to move on to negotiations on a more comprehensive agreement. However, Axios admitted that such a plan may not be feasible due to fundamental differences in the views of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has only announced readiness for a temporary ceasefire, and the Palestinian extremist movement Hamas, asked the Israeli army to withdraw. from the land and completely put an end to the conflict.

The portal's interlocutors also expressed hope that the death of Hamas Politburo head Yahya Sinwar will finally force the movement to soften its demands and agree to smaller deals , and will make Israel more willing to make efforts to end the conflict.

Negotiations on the Gaza Strip with the participation of Israeli intelligence agency Mossad head David Barnea and CIA Director William Burns took place in Doha on October 27. The Qatari side was represented at the meeting by Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdel Rahman Al Thani. On October 25, Barnea met in Cairo with representatives of the Egyptian security forces, who also acted as mediators between the parties in the conflict. According to CNN television sources, the next round of discussions will begin in a few days.

At the end of November 2023, through the mediation of Egypt and Qatar, a humanitarian ceasefire was established in the Gaza Strip for one week. During this time, according to Israel, they freed 110 hostages. However, on December 1 last year, the ceasefire was violated and hostilities resumed in the Palestinian lands. After several rounds of consultations held in August this year with the participation of Qatar, the US and Egypt, the conflicting parties were unable to reach an agreement on the terms of the deal.