CIA Director Bill Burns is traveling back to Europe to try to revive talks on a ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel’s Hamas that would end the war in Gaza, a US official tells CNN .
“The director will travel to Europe in the coming days in an effort to revive talks,” the US official said. “The director frequently consults with the Egyptians, Qataris and Israelis. Both Egypt and Qatar are very involved, as are the Israelis.”
A Qatari official also tells CNN that Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani will also participate. The prime minister is currently in Paris, the official said.
Neither official would confirm the other participants. In the past, they have been joined in Paris by Israeli Mossad director David Barnea and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel.
The talks were halted three weeks ago after Burns toured the region in an attempt to bridge the remaining rift between Israel and Hamas. CNN reported on Tuesday that Egypt muddied the negotiations after it independently changed the terms of a framework that Israel had joined and presented it to Hamas, which then said it accepted it.
The proposal had been changed without the knowledge of Israel or the other mediators, the US and Qatar, causing anger and frustration.
This story is current and will be updated.
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