The heads of the American and British foreign intelligence agencies CIA and MI6 mentioned on Saturday that they are tirelessly working toward achieving a cease-fire in Gaza. They used a rare joint public statement to advocate for peace.
CIA Director William Burns and MI6 Chief Richard Moore conveyed that their agencies had been utilizing intelligence channels to push strongly for restraint and de-escalation.
In an opinion piece for the Financial Times, they expressed that a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas conflict could alleviate the suffering and tragic loss of life among Palestinian civilians and facilitate the return of hostages who had endured 11 months of confinement.
Burns has been deeply engaged in efforts to mediate an end to the fighting, having traveled to Egypt in August for high-level discussions aimed at reaching a hostage deal and securing at least a temporary halt to the conflict.
CIA and M16 working on the deal
Although no agreement has been reached, U.S. officials maintain that a deal is close. President Joe Biden recently noted that only a few remaining issues need to be resolved. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied reports of a breakthrough, stating they were inaccurate.
While both the U.S. and the U.K. are firm allies of Israel, the U.K. suspended some arms exports to Israel on Monday due to concerns that they might be used to violate international law.
Burns and Moore also emphasized the strong trans-Atlantic relationship amid various threats, including an aggressive Russia, a growing China, and the ongoing risk of international terrorism, all further complicated by rapid technological advancements.
They pointed to Russia’s campaign of sabotage across Europe and the manipulation of technology to spread disinformation aimed at creating divisions. U.S. officials have frequently accused Moscow of interfering in American elections. This week, the Biden administration took over Kremlin-run websites and charged employees of the Russian broadcaster RT with secretly funding social media efforts to promote pro-Kremlin content and incite discord ahead of November’s presidential election.
First joint opinion piece by the heads of the two intelligence agencies
This article marks the first joint opinion piece by the heads of the two intelligence agencies. They also acknowledged a new era of openness in their field, referencing how both the CIA and MI6 declassified intelligence on Russia’s plan to invade Ukraine prior to Moscow’s attack in February 2022.
They noted that their agencies foresaw the invasion and were able to alert the international community, allowing for a coordinated defense of Ukraine.
As the war persists with no clear end in sight, the spy chiefs highlighted the importance of continued support for Ukraine. They stressed that the conflict has integrated a mix of conventional weaponry, evolving technology such as drones and satellites, cyber-warfare, and information operations at an unprecedented pace.
The conflict, they added, has shown that technology, when paired with traditional weaponry and exceptional bravery, can shape the trajectory of war. They also praised Ukraine’s resilience and innovative strategies.
U.S. effort to end the war
On May 31, U.S. President Joe Biden described an Israeli cease-fire proposal, referring to it as a “road map” towards a lasting truce and the release of hostages. This initiated a concentrated U.S. effort to end the war, which had begun after Hamas’ October 7 attacks on southern Israel.
The original plan was structured in three phases. The first phase, set to last six weeks, called for a complete cease-fire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas of Gaza, and the release of certain hostages, including women, the elderly, and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Palestinian civilians would be allowed to return home, and humanitarian aid would be increased.
During this six-week period, both sides would negotiate the second phase. It would involve the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, along with Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza, turning the temporary cease-fire into a permanent one.
The third phase would focus on the large-scale reconstruction of Gaza, which would take years to recover from the destruction caused by the war.
What disrupted the talks?
The talks faced significant disruption last month after a blast killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh during his visit to Tehran for the Iranian president’s inauguration. The attack was widely attributed to Israel, though no confirmation or denial has been made by the country. Biden commented that the assassination had hindered cease-fire efforts, causing the talks to stall.
This killing occurred only hours after Israel had assassinated a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut. Both incidents provoked threats of retaliation from Iran and Hezbollah, raising fears of a regional war and diverting international focus from ending the conflict in Gaza. These events triggered a surge of diplomatic efforts and prompted the U.S. to position military assets in the region.
Both Netanyahu and Hamas’ new leader, Yahya Sinwar, have reasons to continue the conflict. Netanyahu’s opponents claim that he is prolonging the war for his political survival, as his far-right coalition partners have vowed to topple the government if he agrees to a cease-fire, potentially leading to elections that could remove him from power. Netanyahu has maintained that his decisions are in the country’s best interest.
