Rome, 24 May. (askanews) – William J. Burns, the CIA director who has been the chief American negotiator in efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza, plans to travel to Europe this weekend for talks with his Israeli counterpart to try to revive the stalled discussions on a pause in fighting and the release of hostages. This was revealed by the New York Times, citing a US official and another person briefed on the negotiations. Frustration exploded this month between Hamas and Israel officials, and the mediating countries – the United States, Qatar and Egypt – who suspended the talks .
Israeli officials were shocked by what they saw as a change in Hamas’ negotiating positions, including the number of hostages to be released in the first phase. Hamas was shocked by Israeli operations in Rafah, the southern Gaza city, which have continued to progress ever since. But also at the heart of the dispute are disagreements over how to define the cessation of hostilities between Hamas and Israel and how the different phases of the ceasefire are expected to be put in place. The resumption of talks, in an undisclosed European location, is expected to take place in the coming days. It is unclear whether the Egyptian and Qatari negotiators will join Burns and David Barnea, the head of the Mossad, Israel’s spy agency, to take part directly in the discussions. Burns, however, has been in close contact with the Egyptian negotiators and Qatar as mediators try to get talks back on track, a U.S. official said.
