The United States, Israel, and Qatar Collaborate to Negotiate a New Deal for Hostage Release

The head of the CIA flew to Europe for discussions with Israeli and Qatari officials on Monday, exploring the possibility of a new cease-fire and the release of hostages in Gaza, concurrent with the U.S. Defense Secretary’s talks in Israel about reducing large-scale combat operations against Hamas.

Despite these diplomatic efforts, the conflict continued unabated, with intense fighting in northern Gaza and rescue workers searching for survivors amid the ruins of buildings destroyed by Israeli strikes.

International pressure for a cease-fire is mounting. France, the UK, and Germany have joined the global call for a halt to the hostilities. Israeli citizens are also urging their government to resume negotiations with Hamas for the release of more hostages, especially after the accidental killing of three civilians by Israeli troops under a white flag.

U.S. officials have expressed concern about the high number of civilian casualties in Gaza. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, while in talks with Israeli officials, stated that the conduct of the operations was Israel’s decision, and the U.S. would not dictate terms. The U.S. has previously vetoed UN calls for a cease-fire and has continued to supply munitions to Israel.

The UN Security Council has postponed its vote on a resolution calling for a cease-fire to allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza. Diplomatic efforts are underway to secure a positive response from the U.S. to this resolution.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains committed to continuing the fight until Hamas’ control in Gaza is ended, its military capabilities are diminished, and the hostages taken since the October 7 attack are freed. This attack by Hamas led to the deaths of about 1,200 people and the capture of around 240 hostages.

More than 19,000 Palestinians have been killed, and a significant part of northern Gaza has been devastated. Nearly 85% of Gaza’s population, amounting to 1.9 million people, have been displaced, with many taking refuge in U.N. shelters and tent camps in the southern part of Gaza.

In the midst of these tensions, CIA Director William Burns held a meeting in Warsaw with the head of Israel’s Mossad and the prime minister of Qatar, signaling serious discussions about a hostage release deal. During a brief cease-fire in late November, a hostage exchange took place, where around 100 hostages were freed in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinians from Israeli prisons. However, further progress on a new deal is not imminent.

Amidst increasing public pressure, Hamas released a video showing three older Israeli hostages urging Israel for their immediate release. Israel has expressed a desire to first secure the release of 19 women and two children.

The ongoing conflict has led to a proposal for a resolution that demands compliance with international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians and critical infrastructure. The draft resolution also calls for an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas.

As efforts continue to transition from intense operations to more targeted actions in Gaza and to improve the flow of humanitarian aid, regional tensions persist. In Bahrain, the U.S. announced the creation of a new force to protect commercial ships in the Red Sea from Houthi rebel attacks, which are stated to be in response to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

The conflict has not only affected Gaza but also led to increased violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where over 300 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, marking it as the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since 2005. Most casualties have occurred during military raids or violent demonstrations.