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The CIA assesses that Gaza Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is facing increasing pressure from military commanders to agree to a ceasefire with Israel, according to CIA Director Bill Burns. Burns said in a private meeting on Saturday that while Sinwar does not fear for his life, he is under tremendous pressure because of the widespread suffering in Gaza, according to a source.
Sinwar, the mastermind of the October 7 Israeli massacre and believed by US intelligence to be hiding in tunnels beneath Khan Yunis’ birthplace, is seen as a key Hamas decision maker on the ceasefire.
Burns, who has been deeply involved in the negotiations as the Biden administration’s chief negotiator, stressed that both the Israeli government and Hamas need to seize this opportunity to reach a ceasefire after the conflict lasted more than nine months. He noted that internal pressure on Sinwar, especially from his senior commanders, has intensified in the past two weeks.
Burns made the comments at the Allen & Co. annual retreat in Sun Valley, Idaho, an event known for its high-profile attendees including tech moguls, media leaders and senior government officials.
The CIA declined to comment on Burns’ remarks.
The growing pressure on Sinwar comes as Hamas and Israel agreed to a framework deal proposed by President Joe Biden in late May that U.S. officials say is the basis for ending the war.Burns had just returned from the Middle East, where he continued negotiations on a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza with mediators from Qatar and Egypt and the head of Israel’s foreign intelligence service.
Burns called the current situation “a very low probability” for a ceasefire, noting that it had become more likely since a brief truce in November. But he warned that final negotiations were always challenging.
In May, similar negotiations led by Burns failed, and the two sides began to push for a ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also facing domestic pressure to reach a deal to release hostages being held in Gaza. Thousands of Israelis protested in Tel Aviv, demanding that the government prioritize freeing the hostages over military action.
“While there are still gaps to be bridged, we are making progress and the trends are positive,” Biden said Thursday, expressing his determination to reach a deal and end the war.
Israel’s campaign in Gaza has killed more than 38,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Thousands remain missing under the rubble, and hundreds of thousands face the threat of disease, famine and homelessness, according to aid groups.
The negotiations were further complicated by difficulties in communicating with Sinwar, who is currently being hunted by Israel. top There are three Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip, but Israel is believed to have killed only the No. 2, Marwan Issa. Hamas military chief Mohammad Dif was targeted in the latest blast, but it is not clear whether he was killed.
US officials believe that Sinwar no longer wants to rule Gaza, and Israel and Hamas have agreed to a temporary governance plan under which neither side will control Gaza after the ceasefire. Qatar has also said it will expel Hamas political leaders if they do not agree to the plan.
The Associated Press reported that recently, senior Hamas leaders in Gaza said that in view of the serious situation in the Gaza Strip, they are urging external leaders to accept Biden’s ceasefire proposal.
Hamas has recently softened its stance on demanding a permanent ceasefire as part of any preliminary deal. View There are disputes in the negotiations with Israel.
Netanyahu has insisted that any deal must allow Israel to resume military operations until its goals are achieved. That could mean an initial truce during which hostages are exchanged, followed by continued negotiations toward a permanent ceasefire during the truce.
On the same day that Burns spoke, Netanyahu said at a press conference that he would strictly adhere to Biden’s framework and reject the 29 reforms proposed by Hamas.
“There are still some tough issues to work through,” a source with knowledge of the negotiations told CNN after Burns’ meeting with Doha. Another source agreed, saying there is “a long way to go.”
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