CIA chief says he’s still hopeful of Gaza ceasefire deal. CIA Director William Burns has expressed cautious optimism regarding the possibility of a ceasefire deal in Gaza, despite acknowledging the complexity of the issues.
Speaking at a House of Representatives hearing, Burns emphasized the ongoing efforts of the United States, alongside Israeli, Qatari, and Egyptian counterparts, in pursuing a resolution to the conflict.
“While there’s still a possibility of such a deal, it won’t be for lack of trying on our part,” Burns stated, acknowledging the formidable challenges in reaching an agreement.
He underscored the importance of continued diplomatic engagement, noting that while success is not guaranteed, the alternatives are far worse.
Burns’ remarks follow recent comments from Qatar, the mediator in the negotiations, indicating that Israel and Hamas remain far from reaching a consensus on a cessation of hostilities and the release of hostages.
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“We are not near a deal, meaning that we are not seeing both sides converging on language that can resolve the current disagreement over the implementation of a deal,” foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told a news conference.
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, described the situation as “very complicated,” emphasizing that both sides have yet to find common ground on key issues.
Despite weeks of dialogue facilitated by US, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators, the advent of Ramadan arrived without the anticipated start of a ceasefire and hostage exchange.
Ansari acknowledged the ongoing efforts but refrained from providing a timeline for a potential agreement, citing the intricate nature of the conflict on the ground.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian toll of the conflict continues to escalate, with the Gaza health ministry reporting a staggering death toll of at least 31,184 individuals over more than five months of Israeli airstrikes and military actions targeting Palestinian civilians.
The latest figures include 72 deaths within the past 24 hours alone, with 72,889 individuals wounded since the conflict erupted on October 7th.
As CIA chief says he’s still hopeful of Gaza ceasefire deal, the region remains fraught with uncertainty, with the toll on civilian lives and the urgent need for humanitarian intervention underscoring the pressing need for a sustainable ceasefire agreement.
William Joseph Burns is an American diplomat who has served as director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Biden administration since March 19, 2021.
