From the Liveblog of
Thursday, February 15, 2024
Netanyahu meets with visiting CIA director William Burns in Tel Aviv
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets in the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv with CIA director William Burns, along with Mossad head David Barnea, Shin Bet director Ronen Bar, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and Military Secretary Avi Gil.
According to an Israeli official, Netanyahu “demanded to know whether the hostages received the medicines” that were delivered to Gaza last month in a deal that involved France, Qatar and the US.
Israel received assurances that the medicines would reach the hostages but never received confirmation.
The official repeats that only “strong military pressure and firm pressure in negotiations” will force Hamas to change its demands for a hostage deal.
