CIA head to meet today with Mossad chief, Qatari PM in Paris in bid to restart hostage talks

By Jacob Magid

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and ToI Staff 24 May 2024, 3:56 pm

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This combination of pictures created on February 13, 2024 shows (L to R) CIA Director William Burns, Mossad Director David Barnea, and Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani. (AFP)

CIA Director William Burns will meet with Mossad chief David Barnea and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in Paris later today, an Israeli official says, confirming an Axios report.

The meeting will focus on reviving talks for the release of Israeli hostages and a cessation of fighting in Gaza after negotiations in Cairo fell apart two weeks ago.

According to Axios, Burns is in touch with his Egyptian counterpart regarding the talks, after Cairo threatened to cease its mediation efforts over attempts to doubt its role.

Qatar’s Al-Thani will also meet with French President Emmanuel Macron while in Paris, along with his Egyptian, Jordanian and Saudi counterparts.