ERUSALEM: Zionist official said visiting CIA Director Bill Burns and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed Wednesday “the possibility” of suspending military operations in Gaza’s Rafah in exchange for Hamas freeing hostages.

Netanyahu and the US spy chief, who has been involved in mediation efforts in the Zionist entity-Hamas war, met in Jerusalem as part of Washington’s latest efforts to secure a truce in the Gaza Strip.

“The two discussed the possibility of Zionist entity pausing the operation in Rafah in exchange for hostage release,” the Zionist official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The meeting came as truce negotiations resumed in Cairo, after Hamas on Monday announced it had accepted a ceasefire proposal from mediators Egypt and Qatar.

Zionist entity has defied international objections and sent tanks into Rafah, the Hamas-ruled territory’s southernmost city on the Egyptian border which is packed with Palestinian civilians sheltering.

Overnight Monday-Tuesday, Zionist forces seized the Palestinian side of the key Rafah border crossing, which is the main conduit for aid into the besieged territory.

Zionist entity’s incursion into eastern Rafah came after Hamas said it had accepted a truce proposal—one Zionist entity said was “very far” from what it negotiators had previously agreed to.

On Wednesday, talks aimed at agreeing terms for a truce in the seven-month war were held in the Egyptian capital “with all sides present”, according to the Egyptian state-linked media.

The United States, Zionist entity’s close ally and top provider of military assistance, confirmed negotiations were underway.

“The talks are ongoing,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.

“A close assessment of the two sides’ position suggests they should be able to close... the remaining gaps, so we’re going to continue to support that process.”

Hamas has warned the ongoing talks would be Zionist entity’s “last chance” to rescue the estimated 128 hostages still held in Gaza, including 36 who are dead according to Zionist officials.

Mediation efforts have stalled as Hamas has insisted on a lasting ceasefire while Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed to destroy the group’s remaining forces in Rafah.

Militants also seized around 250 hostages. Scores of them were released during a one-week truce in November, including 80 Zionists freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Zionist entity.

Zionist entity’s retaliatory offensive against Hamas has killed at least 34,844 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry. — AFP