Paris played host to a diplomatic summit on Sunday, where the Head of the US Central Intelligence Agency, along with high-ranking officials from Egypt, Qatar, and Israel, engaged in discussions to broker a ceasefire in Gaza.
Sources close to the participants revealed that French authorities were also actively involved in facilitating negotiations between these four nations, with the primary goal of halting hostilities between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in the embattled territory.
The security landscape took a notable turn on Friday when it was reported that William Burns, the Chief of the CIA, was set to meet counterparts from Israel and Egypt, as well as Qatar’s Prime Minister, in the coming days.
This move followed a revelation from a security source that President Joe Biden had tasked Burns with negotiating the release of remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a ceasefire, as reported by The Washington Post last week.
According to The New York Times, developments on Saturday indicated that negotiators led by the United States were inching closer to an agreement.
The proposed deal outlined a temporary suspension of Israel’s military operations in Gaza for approximately two months, contingent on the release of over 100 hostages.
Unidentified US officials noted that a draft agreement had been formulated, which would be discussed during the Paris talks on Sunday.
President Joe Biden’s involvement was evident, as he engaged with Qatar’s Emir on Friday to discuss concerted efforts aimed at securing the release of hostages.
However, the White House tempered expectations, cautioning that “imminent developments” were unlikely.
Qatar assumed a pivotal role in the ongoing negotiations, leveraging its influence after successfully brokering a hostage release deal in November.
The backdrop to these diplomatic efforts was Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, resulting in approximately 1,140 deaths, predominantly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
In the aftermath, Hamas took around 250 hostages, with Israel asserting that approximately 132 of them remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 28 deceased captives.
Israel’s subsequent military offensive has been marked by significant casualties, with at least 26,422 people reported killed, the majority being civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
The situation remains fluid, with international leaders converging in Paris to address the complex dynamics and strive for a lasting ceasefire in the region.
