CIA chief floats 28-day Gaza ceasefire with potential exchange in captives

CIA Director Bill Burns has proposed a 28-day ceasefire in Gaza that would involve Hamas releasing around eight captives in exchange for Israel freeing dozens of Palestinian captives, according to Axios, which cites three Israeli officials.

Burns reportedly discussed this plan on Sunday in talks with Israeli and Qatari counterparts. As part of the proposal, Hamas would release “roughly eight women of all ages or men over the age of 50”.

A senior Israeli official told Axios, “Israel agrees to a temporary pause, but Hamas wants a pause that would open a process that would lead to irreversible Israeli steps. If neither side softens its position, there isn’t going to be a deal.”