Negotiations for a cease-fire and the discharge of Israeli hostages have stalled as a result of Hamas rejected the most recent proposal put forth by Israel, Qatar and Egypt, the C.I.A. director mentioned Thursday, placing the blame for an absence of progress in talks squarely on the group that led the Oct. 7 assault on Israel.
Earlier this month, William J. Burns, C.I.A. director and lead American negotiator, traveled to Cairo and pushed what he referred to as “a far-reaching proposal” that Egyptian and Qatari negotiators took to Hamas. The proposal contained a suggestion to permit some Gazans to return to the northern a part of the enclave, a key Hamas demand.
While Mr. Burns didn’t describe the small print of that proposal, he mentioned that thus far Hamas has not accepted it.
“It was a deep disappointment to get a negative reaction from Hamas,” mentioned Mr. Burns, talking on the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas. “Right now, it’s that negative reaction that really is standing in the way of innocent civilians in Gaza getting humanitarian relief that they so desperately need.”
Last Sunday, Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service, expressed remorse that Hamas had rejected the proposal and argued it proved that the group was not fascinated with reaching a deal.
Other American officers, talking on situation of anonymity to debate delicate negotiations, have mentioned Hamas has signaled that it doesn’t have sufficient women and civilian hostages in its management to consummate the primary a part of the deal, which might launch 40 hostages over six weeks in return for a lot of Palestinian prisoners.
A senior Hamas official, additionally talking on situation of anonymity, mentioned there weren’t sufficient dwelling civilian hostages left who met Israel’s standards to achieve their proposed determine of 40 hostages over six weeks. He accused Israel of searching for to free captive troopers for a cheaper price than that demanded by the group. Hamas has mentioned most troopers could be launched in a later section of a cease-fire deal.
In its newest proposal to negotiators, Hamas referred to as for releasing fewer than 20 dwelling hostages as a part of an preliminary, six-week section cease-fire deal, in response to two Israeli officers accustomed to the matter who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate delicate issues. Israel had hoped to see wounded and in poor health hostages freed, but Hamas was insisting on a much more slim definition restricted to the aged and women, one of many officers mentioned.
Last 12 months, Mr. Burns helped information talks that led to the discharge of roughly 100 hostages in return for a brief halt in combating and the discharge of Palestinian prisoners. Mr. Burns mentioned he couldn’t assure that the present talks would succeed.
“And it breaks your heart because you can see in very human terms what’s at stake here as well,” he mentioned.
Mr. Burns additionally reiterated the Biden administration’s want that Israel not escalate its battle with Iran, after what he referred to as a failed Iranian assault final weekend. Instead, he mentioned President Biden and different policymakers hope that “we’ll all find a way to de-escalate the situation.”
“I know the Israeli government, as we sit here this afternoon, is considering a response to what happened last Saturday night,” Mr. Burns mentioned. “And you know, that’s their choice to make that response.”
But Mr. Burns mentioned the Israelis had “clearly demonstrated their superiority” with taking pictures down Iranian drones and missiles. He mentioned of 330 drones and missiles launched by Iran, solely 4 or 5 hit the bottom in Israel.
“And none of them did any significant damage,” he mentioned. “It’s a reminder of the quality of the Israeli military. It’s a reminder of the fact that the Israelis have friends, starting with the United States.”
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