CIA director reviewed Gaza peace proposal accepted by Hamas, sources say

CIA Director William Burns reviewed a Gaza ceasefire proposal approved by Hamas earlier this month before it was submitted to Israeli officials, two current and one former Egyptian intelligence officials told Middle East Eye.

Last week, CNN reported that an Egyptian intelligence official had “quietly changed” the terms of the proposal, surprising negotiators and leading to Israel rejecting the deal.

According to three anonymous sources cited by CNN, the proposal approved by Hamas on 6 May was different from the one originally submitted to the group by the Qataris or Americans.

The sources said the changes were made by Major General Ahmed Abdel Khalek, the deputy head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service.

Burns was reportedly angry and embarrassed. He “almost blew a gasket”, one of the sources told CNN.

However, the three Egyptian intelligence sources told MEE that Burns was among several mediators who reviewed the draft before it was sent to Israel.

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