CIA Director William Burns is set to meet with his Israeli and Egyptian counterparts, as well as Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Rome over the weekend. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza.
A source revealed to Reuters that the gathering, which will include Burns and the Israeli and Egyptian intelligence chiefs in the presence of Thani, is scheduled for Sunday. This meeting comes at a crucial moment, as Israel seeks to modify the proposed ceasefire plan and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. These demands have complicated the process of reaching a final agreement to end the over nine-month-long conflict that has devastated the Gaza Strip.
According to a Western official, a Palestinian source, and two Egyptian sources, the Israeli government is pushing for changes to the ceasefire terms. This comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, currently in the US, faces increasing pressure to finalize a ceasefire agreement. Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden urged Netanyahu to “seal the deal” and secure the return of the hostages. Vice President Kamala Harris echoed these sentiments, calling for an end to the war.
The Biden administration has announced that both Israel and the US are working to bridge their differences on the matter. Harris, seen as a potential Democratic presidential candidate, has stated that she will not remain silent about the “tragedy” and “suffering” experienced by Gazan civilians, urging all parties to reach a compromise.
Beyond the US, countries like New Zealand, Australia, and Canada have joined the calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. They have also urged Israel to respond to the recent ruling by the United Nations court, which declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and its settlements there illegal.
Last week, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a strong statement, declaring that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and its settlements are illegal and should be withdrawn as soon as possible. This marks the court’s most decisive judgment on the Israel-Palestinian conflict to date.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu announced on Friday that he would send an Israeli delegation to Rome for the ceasefire talks. This announcement came during his meeting with former US President Donald Trump.
