CIA Director to Egypt to Support Hamas-Israel Deal

According to Axios, CIA Director William Burns will travel to Cairo next week for meetings with Egyptian officials about efforts to initiate negotiations for a new deal to secure the release of remaining hostages in Gaza. U.S. officials, as reported by Axios, believe the White House considers the hostage deal the only way to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza. U.S. President Joe Biden sees Burns as a key figure in efforts to reach an agreement concerning hostages held by Hamas, and his sending to Cairo will exert pressure on the parties to push the Palestinian movement towards an agreement. Israel has submitted its response to Hamas's plan regarding a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal to Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, according to Israeli outlet Walla. Israel has announced its rejection of Hamas’s three-phase plan over 135 days, which ends with a swap of all Israeli hostages for thousands of Palestinian prisoners along with a cessation of the war on the Gaza Strip. According to Walla, Israel informed intermediaries of its rejection of most of Hamas's demands while being open to negotiations based on a "Paris Plan."