An Egyptian intelligence official reportedly single-handedly altered the terms of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas earlier this month, ultimately sabotaging a potential deal, according to a scathing report from CNN. The adjustments, made without informing the other mediators, led to significant frustration and confusion among officials from the United States, Qatar, and Israel.
The original ceasefire proposal, which had been accepted by Israel, aimed to facilitate the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners while establishing a temporary cessation of hostilities in Gaza. However, Abdel Khalek, who works under Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, inserted additional demands from Hamas into the framework to secure their approval. This move was not communicated to other mediators or to Israel, resulting in a breakdown of the negotiation process.
CIA Director Bill Burns, who has been leading American efforts to broker the ceasefire, was reportedly furious and embarrassed upon learning of the unilateral changes. The revised terms included a contentious call for “sustainable calm” in the second phase of the agreement, a condition Israel opposed as it insisted on the complete defeat of Hamas and the release of all hostages before discussing an end to the conflict.
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