Hamas and Israel appear closer to some form of a Gaza ceasefire deal than at any time since the brief truce last November. CIA Director William Burns and White House envoy Brett McGurk traveled to the Middle East this week for negotiations with Israeli delegations led by David Barnea, the head of the Mossad, and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, as well as the head of Egyptian intelligence and the prime minister of Qatar. The two Arab nations maintain direct communication with Hamas negotiators.
Hamas has shown a willingness to compromise on major issues in recent weeks. Hamas officials, including those on its negotiating team, have said they generally accept the principles of a phased peace plan endorsed by the White House. “We are ready for negotiations that achieve a cessation of aggression and a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip,” said senior negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya, a deputy of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. “We are ready for genuine negotiations if [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu adheres to the principles outlined by President [Joe] Biden.”
