CIA Director Joins Israeli and Egyptian Counterparts in Qatar for Hostage Negotiations
CIA Director Bill Burns returns to Qatar, joining Israeli and Egyptian counterparts for crucial hostage talks Meetings with Qatari officials also scheduled
CIA Director Bill Burns traveled to Qatar on Tuesday for meetings with Qatari, Israeli, and Egyptian officials, according to multiple sources.
One US official stated, "Director Burns visited Doha for discussions regarding the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, including ongoing talks about the hostages."
Another source knowledgeable about the trip indicated that the CIA director will be accompanied in Doha by the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, David Barnea, and the Director of Egyptian General Intelligence, Abbas Kamel.
Burns' visit to Qatar follows the extension of the ceasefire by two days, with Americans remaining unaccounted for following the October 7 Hamas attack.
Abigail Edan, a 4-year-old American dual citizen, was abducted by Hamas on October 7 but was released on Sunday. This marks the first successful release of an American hostage since the truce between Israel and Hamas began.
Burns has played a key role in the Biden administration's efforts to negotiate the release of hostages by Hamas. He has maintained regular contact with Barnea, who has been designated by the Israelis as the point person for hostage negotiations.
Burns visited Doha on November 9 to meet with Qatari leaders and Barnea to discuss an "emerging arrangement," according to a senior US administration official. A week and a half later, he was summoned to a meeting in Doha led by the White House's top Middle East adviser, Brett McGurk, to finalize an agreement that would result in the release of at least 50 hostages over four days. Qatar brokered the agreement as an intermediary between Hamas and Israel, with close involvement from the US.
This story has been updated with additional information.
