Sources say CIA director reviewed and accepted Gaza peace proposal from Hamas

CIA Director William Burns was caught in the middle of a diplomatic storm as he reviewed a Gaza ceasefire proposal that was ultimately rejected by Israel. According to sources, Burns was among several mediators who reviewed the proposal before it was submitted to Israeli officials, but changes made by an Egyptian intelligence official led to the deal falling apart.

The proposal, approved by Hamas on May 6th, included a roadmap for a three-stage ceasefire leading to a permanent end to hostilities, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the release of Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. However, the major stumbling block in the negotiations was the vague term “sustainable calm”, with Palestinian negotiators seeking a clearer definition.

Major General Ahmed Abdel Khalek, the deputy head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service, reportedly made changes to the proposal that surprised negotiators and led to Israel rejecting the deal. Burns was said to be angry and embarrassed by the turn of events, with sources revealing that he was close to blowing a gasket.

Abdel Khalek, known for his close ties to Palestinian factions in Gaza, has a history of involvement in mediating deals between Israel and Hamas. Despite facing pressure from military intelligence, he has been brought back to manage Palestinian issues during critical moments, such as brokering a ceasefire during an Israeli offensive on Gaza in 2021.

The leak of Abdel Khalek’s name, the first time a member of the negotiations team has been publicly named, has raised suspicions of a possible attempt to exclude him from future negotiations. Members of Egypt’s military intelligence apparatus are reportedly seeking to exploit American and Israeli anger against Abdel Khalek to have him replaced, but the General Intelligence Service has not taken action so far.

A source close to Hamas dismissed the claims made by the Egyptian intelligence sources, calling them “nonsensical” and suggesting they were a justification for Israel’s refusal of the ceasefire agreement. The source also revealed that Hamas had decided to end its participation in ceasefire negotiations until Israel ended its offensive on Rafah, withdrew its troops, and reopened the Rafah crossing for essential supplies to reach Gaza’s population.

The blame game between the parties involved continues, with Egypt being scapegoated for the breakdown of talks despite claims that the Americans had agreed to Hamas’s proposed amendments. The situation remains tense as efforts to reach a ceasefire and end the violence in Gaza face significant challenges and obstacles.