[ad_1]
CIA Director Bill Burns awarded the George Tenet Medal to Qatari Intelligence Chief Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Khulaifi for his contributions to counterterrorism and intelligence cooperation and his efforts to achieve a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and release prisoners.
The US Central Intelligence Agency reportedly awarded the highest “George Tenet” medal to Qatar’s National Security Director Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hulaifi this week, amid joint efforts between Doha and Washington to reach a prisoner release and a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.
Two people familiar with the matter said Axios CIA Director Bill Burns presented Al-Khulaifi with the award Thursday during a ceremony at the U.S. intelligence agency’s headquarters.
However, the CIA declined to comment to Axios on the matter.
Sources told the news outlet that Burns presented the award to Al-Khulaifi “in recognition of his role in maintaining national and regional security and for his outstanding support to the CIA in safeguarding the interests and security of the United States and Qatar.”
Other major reasons cited in the report include cooperation between Qatari intelligence and the CIA in counter-terrorism, and joint efforts between Qatar and the United States in securing the release of Hamas prisoners.
Axios cited sources as saying that the reasons also included Qatar’s National Security Agency’s “ability to prevent and thwart threats and attacks in the Middle East.”
In 2022, US President Joe Biden designated Qatar as Major Non-NATO Allies (MNNA) He met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Washington.
This designation provides Washington’s foreign partners with several benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation.
Qatar becomes the third country to be included 18 current MNNAwhich already includes Bahrain and Kuwait.
The Gulf state also hosts Al Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East. In January, the U.S. agreed to expand its military presence at the base in Qatar. The next decade.
Ceasefire talks resume in Doha
Meanwhile, mediators Qatar and the United States have joined Egypt in diplomatic efforts since Israel launched a war in the Gaza Strip on October 7 that has left more than 40,000 people dead.
Qatari mediation efforts led to a ceasefire late last year and the release of 109 Israeli prisoners Of these, 251 are held by Hamas and 240 are Palestinians in Israeli jails. Negotiations have since stalled, and Israel has stepped up its war on the besieged region.
This week’s ceasefire talks began in Doha on Thursday following a joint statement on August 8 by the leaders of Qatar, the United States and Egypt urging Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement.
The talks, which entered their second day on Friday, were held behind closed doors and attended by Brett McGurk, director of the Central Intelligence Agency and Biden’s senior Middle East adviser, Abbas Kamel, head of the Egyptian Intelligence Service, and Israeli representatives.
A spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told AFP On Wednesday, his political adviser Ophir Falk will attend the talks.
In a statement Arabi Jadid On Wednesday, Hamas politburo member Suhail al-Sindi reiterated that Hamas insisted on restoring Biden’s original ceasefire plan, but Hamas said Israel blocked the plan.
Hindi newspapers also agreed Hamas issued a statement on Sundaydemanding that Israel develop a plan to enforce a ceasefire and prisoner release agreement rather than engage in back-and-forth negotiations.
Majed Al-Ansari, a spokesman for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Thursday QNA The talks will resume on Friday.
“The mediators are firmly committed to promoting a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip to facilitate the release of hostages and enable as much humanitarian aid as possible to enter Gaza,” Qatar News Agency quoted Ansari as saying.
The talks were held against a backdrop of high tensions in the Middle East. On July 31, Israel assassinated Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and on July 30, Israel assassinated Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukur in Beirut.
While Israel claimed responsibility for the Beirut attack, it has not claimed responsibility for Haniyeh’s killing despite worldwide condemnation, including from mediators Qatar and Egypt.
Iran and Hezbollah have since vowed to retaliate against Israel, raising concerns of further escalation in the region.
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani spoke by phone on Thursday with Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani to discuss the latest developments in mediation efforts.
“The discussions also covered the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, progress in joint mediation efforts to end the war in the Gaza Strip, and ongoing tensions in the Middle East, stressing the need for calm and de-escalation in the region,” Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs Said in a statement.
[ad_2]
Source link
