Great Britain CIA chief Burns: Gaza negotiations to continue

The head of the US foreign intelligence agency CIA, William Burns, has announced further indirect negotiations on a ceasefire in the Gaza war. "We will present this more detailed proposal, I hope in the next few days, and then we'll see," Burns said at an event organized by the "Financial Times" newspaper in London. The USA, Egypt and Qatar mediate in the indirect negotiations, with Burns usually leading the US delegation.

The talks take place at various locations - mostly in Cairo or Doha - but have not made any progress for months. They also involve the release of hostages held by Hamas in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

US media had already recently reported on a planned final proposal. If both sides do not accept this proposal either, it could mean the end of the negotiations, it was said. According to Burns, the stakes are immeasurably high - also for the future and security of the entire Middle East region.

The necessary progress in the negotiations was ultimately "a question of political will", he said on the podium in London. "Whether the leaders of both sides are prepared to accept that (...) the time has come to make some tough decisions and political compromises." He sincerely hopes that the leaders of both sides will make these decisions.

The Gaza war was triggered by the terrorist attack by Hamas and other Islamist groups in the Israeli border area on October 7 last year. More than 1,200 people were killed and around 250 others were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip. Israel responded with air strikes and a ground offensive in Gaza. According to an Israeli count, 101 people are still being held by Hamas, although it is unclear how many of them are still alive.