Gaza Mediators and Israeli Spy Chief Set for Rome Talks

Egyptian, Qatari, and U.S. mediators are set to meet with Israeli negotiators in Rome on Sunday to push for a Gaza truce, according to Egyptian state-linked media.

Al-Qahera news, which is connected to Egyptian intelligence, reported that “a four-way meeting between Egyptian officials and their American and Qatari counterparts, along with Israel’s intelligence chief, will be held in Rome on Sunday to negotiate a truce in Gaza,” citing an unnamed senior official.

Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have been mediating efforts to end the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, which has persisted for over nine months.

The truce proposal involves the release of hostages held by Gaza militants in exchange for Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel.

Separately, U.S. news outlet Axios reported that CIA Director Bill Burns is expected to discuss the issue in Rome on Sunday with Israeli, Qatari, and Egyptian officials.

The official quoted by Al-Qahera News emphasized Egypt’s demand for “an immediate ceasefire” as part of the agreement, which should also “ensure the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza” and “protect the freedom of movement” for civilians in the Palestinian territory.

Additionally, Cairo seeks a “complete (Israeli) withdrawal from the Rafah crossing” that connects Gaza to Egypt.

Recent mediation efforts have focused on a framework presented by U.S. President Joe Biden in late May, which he described as an Israeli proposal.

On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Congress, seeking continued U.S. support, and later met with President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Harris, the likely Democratic nominee for the upcoming U.S. presidential election, stated after the meeting that she would not remain “silent” about the suffering in Gaza and called for an end to the “devastating” conflict.

The Gaza war began after Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7, which reportedly killed 1,197 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Of the 251 people taken hostage that day, 111 remain in Gaza, including 39 whom the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel’s retaliatory campaign against Hamas in Gaza has resulted in at least 39,175 deaths in the territory, according to its health ministry.