The future of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas rests heavily on the decision of Hamas’ leader, according to Deputy CIA Director David Cohen. While Cohen did not name the leader, Yahya Sinwar, he emphasized that the outcome of negotiations largely depends on his stance. Speaking at an intelligence and national security summit in Washington, Cohen highlighted Israel’s commitment to the negotiations.
Mediators from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar have been actively involved in efforts to broker a deal between the two sides and prevent a potential escalation into a wider regional conflict. However, Cohen expressed concerns about the ability to control the situation. He acknowledged that there might be moments where parties step back from the brink, but he remained uncertain about any party’s capacity to fully control the escalation in the region.