WASHINGTON – CIA Director William Burns arrived in Qatar on Tuesday as U.S. officials struggle to free Americans still held hostage by Hamas terrorists.
Burns is expected to discuss a possible extension of a five-day truce in the Gaza Strip as disappointment grows in Washington that only one American has been freed since Israel halted its invasion on Friday.
Up to eight US citizens and one permanent resident remain detained as the Israeli military attempts to expel the terrorist group from the coastal territory it has controlled since 2007.
Burns will meet with Israeli and Egyptian spy chiefs and Qatari officials working to negotiate the release of some 240 people kidnapped during Hamas’ Oct. 7 surprise attack on southern Israel.
The White House says it is not sure how many American hostages remain alive, but that two missing women appear to qualify for release under Hamas’ decision to free women and children in exchange for Israel stopping its attack and releasing Palestinian prisoners. .
“Director Burns is in Doha for meetings regarding the conflict between Israel and Hamas, including discussions about the hostages,” a source familiar with the matter told The Post.
The CIA director has played a key role in directing the US approach to the conflict. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
The source declined to confirm reports that Burns is meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani, Mossad Director David Barnea and Abbas Kamel of Egypt’s intelligence service.
During a meeting with Burns, Barnea emphasized to his peers that Israel is not interested in reaching a new agreement until all women and children currently detained in Gaza have been released, Axios reported.
Intelligence chiefs had reportedly weighed a possible three-day extension to the current pause.
Israel and Hamas agreed on Monday to an additional two-day pause in fighting, meaning fighting will likely resume Thursday morning Israel time if an additional halt is not negotiated.
Most important to Burns is securing the release of more American hostages after 4-year-old Abigail Edan was freed over the weekend.
Israel’s Mossad director David Barnea would also reportedly attend the meeting in Doha. AFP via Getty Images
The White House said Tuesday it had no indication that Hamas was strategically holding other Americans while releasing citizens of Israel and other nations.
“We want to see all the hostages out… and that’s why we’re going to continue to work with Israel, with Qatar, with Egypt to see if we can extend this further,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. on Air Force One during a presidential flight to Colorado on Tuesday.
Kirby added that “there is no indication that Hamas is trying to use its influence or anything like that to prevent the Americans from leaving.”
“I think it’s important to remember a couple of things,” Kirby continued. “First, the pool of Americans is quite small and the pool of Americans who qualify right now (women and children) is even smaller.
William Burns has led the CIA since March 2021. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
“Number two, we can’t just assume that Hamas has easy access to everyone at any time, or that all Americans are being held by Hamas, and certainly not that they are in the same place. So we don’t have perfect visibility of where they are. We know that Hamas can reach all the hostages if it wants and has the ability to do so.”
President Biden has indicated that the initial four-day pause that began on November 24 came with the understanding that Israel could extend the pause for each day that Hamas releases 10 additional hostages.
On Tuesday night, the White House tweeted from Biden’s X account an aspirational message about postwar peace.
“Hamas unleashed a terrorist attack because they fear nothing more than Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace.” the tweet saying. “Continuing down the path of terror, violence, murder and war is giving Hamas what it seeks. We can not do that”.
Under the current agreement, Hamas is expected to release about 90 of the 240 hostages it took in its bloody Oct. 7 surprise attack.
Meanwhile, Israel initially agreed to release 150 Palestinian prisoners under the original agreement and agreed to release 60 more under the extension.
Qatar’s participation is significant because the Middle Eastern nation has repeatedly acted as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, while hosting the terrorist group’s political leaders in exile.
Burns previously spoke with Sheikh Mohammed and Barnea in Doha on November 9.
Approximately 1,200 civilians were killed in the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas, including 33 Americans.
Israel has responded by carrying out punitive bombings against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip and launching a ground invasion to eradicate the terrorist group and its infrastructure.
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