CIA and Mossad chiefs to discuss Gaza hostages with Qatari officials

(Patria) - CIA Director William Burns and his Israeli counterpart will meet with Qatari officials in the coming days to discuss a potential second hostage deal in Gaza, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

Burns and Mossad chief David Barnea will meet this weekend in Europe with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, a source briefed on the meeting told Reuters. Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel will also participate, a second source said.

The Biden administration has been trying to facilitate the release of more than 100 remaining hostages taken during Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel. The heads of US and Israeli intelligence have previously met with Qatari and Egyptian officials, helping to broker a brief truce in November that freed more than 100 hostages.

Burns "has been involved in helping with the hostage deal that was in place and is trying to help us get to another one," White House spokesman John Kirby said.

The CIA, which has a policy of not disclosing the director's travel, declined to comment on the meeting, which was first reported by the Washington Post.

US ally Israel has vowed to eradicate Hamas, launching a barrage of attacks that have flattened much of Gaza and killed at least 25,700 people, according to Palestinian health officials.

Hamas said it would abide by any possible ruling by the International Court of Justice. After the planned talks this weekend, Qatar's Al Thani is expected to be in Washington next week. He is scheduled to speak at the Atlantic Council on Monday.