Gaza mediators, Israeli spy chief ready for talks in Rome

Egyptian, Qatari and US mediators will meet with Israeli negotiators in Rome on Sunday to push for a ceasefire in Gaza, Egyptian state media said.

The Al-Qahera newspaper, which has ties to Egyptian intelligence, reported that “a four-party meeting will be held in Rome on Sunday between Egyptian officials and their American and Qatari counterparts, along with the Israeli intelligence chief, to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza,” an anonymous senior official said.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States are mediating efforts to end the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which has lasted more than nine months.

The ceasefire proposal involves the release of hostages held by Gaza militants in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

US news agency Axios reported that CIA Director Bill Burns is expected to discuss the matter with Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian officials in Rome on Sunday.

The official quoted by Al-Qahera News stressed Egypt’s demand for an “immediate ceasefire” as part of the deal, which should also “guarantee the access of humanitarian aid to Gaza” and protect “the freedom of movement” of civilians in the Palestinian territory.

In addition, Cairo is seeking a “complete (Israeli) withdrawal from the Rafah crossing,” which connects Gaza to Egypt.

Recent mediation efforts have focused on a framework presented by US President Joe Biden in late May, which he described as an Israeli proposal.

On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech to Congress calling for continued U.S. support. He later met with President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Harris, the likely Democratic candidate for the upcoming US presidential election, said after the meeting that she would not be “silent” about the suffering in Gaza and called for an end to the “devastating” conflict.

The war in Gaza began after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,197 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Of the 251 people taken hostage that day, 111 are still in Gaza. According to the Israeli army, 39 are dead.

According to the Israeli Ministry of Health, Israel’s retaliation against Hamas in Gaza has left at least 39,175 people dead in the area.