optimistic

CHRISTIAN BREAKING NEWS: Ceasefire-Hostage Negotiations Going On Quite Serious… Possible in the Next Couple of Weeks: CIA Director William Burns

Transcript: NPR’s full conversation with CIA Director William Burns:
https://www.npr.org/2025/01/10/g-s1-41888/transcript-full-conversation-cia-director-william-burns
Source: NPR Website, npr.org

Kelly: The Middle East. Who or what is blocking a ceasefire on Gaza at this point?

Burns: You know, at this point, I still think there’s a chance I mean, I’ve learned the hard way not to get my hopes up about the cease fire hostage negotiations. I do think there remains a chance to get a deal. And we’ll certainly and this administration worked very hard at that right up until January 20th. And I think the coordination with the new administration on this issue has been good. And President-elect Trump has made clear his interest in trying to get a deal, you know, before his inauguration. So I think there’s a (crosstalk).

Kelly: Basically said the hostages need to be freed or there’s going to be hell to pay. I’m paraphrasing, but.

Burns: Right. And so I think the gaps between the parties have narrowed. There’s an Israeli delegation in Doha right now working through proximity talks managed by the Qataris, with the support of the Egyptians and with our support. So, I think there’s a chance. I mean, and the thing that I always remember is that this is not just an abstraction. I mean, this is not just about brackets in negotiating texts. It’s about human beings. It’s about hostages held in hellish conditions, you know, in tunnels beneath Gaza. It’s about their families with whom I meet regularly, which is a heartbreaking experience. And I have nothing but admiration for their bravery and determination. And it’s about Gazan civilians who are also in hellish conditions right now and suffering terribly, especially through this winter. So there’s every reason for political leaders to recognize that enough is enough. That perfect is rarely on the menu in the Middle East and that, you know, it’s time to make a deal. And I do think the negotiations that are going on right now are quite serious and do offer the possibility, at least of getting this done in the next couple of weeks.

Officials in Washington were cautiously optimistic on Friday about the chances of reaching a hostage-ceasefire agreement in Gaza before the end of US President Joe Biden’s term, with CIA Director William Burns describing ongoing negotiations in Doha as “quite serious” and White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby saying he believes a hostage deal is possible before January 20.

In an interview with NPR’s “All Things Considered,” the CIA director stated that “negotiations going on right now are quite serious and do offer the possibility, at least, of getting this done in the next couple of weeks.”

Burns also stated that Israeli hostages in Gaza and Palestinian civilians in the Strip are currently living under “hellish conditions,” which adds urgency to the continuing ceasefire negotiations.

He is participating in the talks on behalf of the United States.

NEWS SOURCE & LINKS:
The Times of Israel

CEASEFIRE-HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS GOING ON QUITE SERIOUS POSSIBLE IN NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS: CIA Director | Christian Breaking News!