Report: Biden to dispatch CIA chief to Europe for hostage talks with Israeli, Egyptian, Qatari counterparts

US President Joe Biden is reportedly planning to dispatch CIA director William Burns to Europe in the coming days for high-level talks aimed at the release of the remaining hostages being held by Hamas.

Israel has reportedly proposed a two-month ceasefire in exchange for a staged release of the hostages.

Burns will meet the Israeli and Egyptian intelligence chiefs, David Barnea and Abbas Kamel, along with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, The Washington Post reports, citing officials familiar with the matter. Israel’s Channel 12 says Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar will also participate.

White House Middle East czar Brett McGurk was in Qatar and Egypt this week for talks on the same subject.

Burns “has been… involved in helping us with the hostage deal that was in place and trying to help us pursue another one,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby tells reporters traveling with U.S. President Joe Biden aboard Air Force One, referring specific questions to the agency.