Media: CIA chief Burns travels to Qatar amid efforts for Gaza ceasefire, hostage release

CIA Director William Burns is heading to Qatar for talks on a potential hostage deal, with sources indicating that an agreement could be reached within a month.

On December 18, Burns will meet the Qatari Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, in Doha to discuss progress on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, according to sources who spoke to The Jerusalem Post, Caliber.Az reports.

The CIA has declined to comment on the reported meeting. Burns' visit comes amid reports that a deal could be finalized in the next month, as suggested by The Jerusalem Post.

On December 17, Brett McGurk, the Biden administration’s Middle East coordinator, and Adam Boehler, the special envoy for hostage affairs under President-elect Donald Trump, held talks on the hostage situation during their visit to the region.

Sources told The Post that Hamas is seeking assurances that Trump will not permit Israel to resume operations in Gaza once the first stage of the deal concludes. This stage is expected to wrap up in less than 60 days, after Trump's inauguration on 20 January. However, Israel has previously refused to provide such guarantees.

The Post also reported that Hamas believes a deal must be struck before Trump takes office and is attempting to secure any guarantees in light of his statements on the issue.

Israeli forces continue their intense bombardment of Gaza, with recent airstrikes targeting a residential building near the besieged Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Beit Lahiya, resulting in the deaths of at least eight displaced Palestinians. The ongoing violence has left the region in turmoil, as the conflict shows no sign of abating.

Hamas has suggested that a ceasefire could be achievable if Israel refrains from imposing new conditions. In contrast, Israel's defence minister has expressed optimism, stating that an agreement is closer than ever. Despite these talks, Israeli forces have escalated their offensive by deploying remote-controlled vehicles laden with explosives around the Kamal Adwan Hospital. These vehicles were detonated, destroying nearby structures and sending shrapnel into the hospital, causing further casualties among patients and medical staff.

The United Nations' humanitarian agency (OCHA) reports that Israeli authorities continue to block vital aid missions to northern Gaza. On December 17, three aid convoys carrying food and water were turned back, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation. The ongoing siege and airstrikes have made the delivery of essential supplies increasingly difficult.

The human toll of the conflict remains staggering. Since October 7, 2023, Israel's military operations in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of at least 45,059 Palestinians and left 107,041 others wounded, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

On the other side, Hamas-led attacks on the same day have claimed the lives of at least 1,139 Israelis, with more than 200 taken captive, highlighting the devastating scale of the conflict.

By Aghakazim Guliyev