Mossad: Hamas toughening demands for hostage deal, seeks Ramadan escalation

The Mossad spy agency said Saturday that the Hamas terror group prefers an escalation of violence during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan to a hostage deal, adding that Mossad chief David Barnea met CIA Director Bill Burns this weekend as part of efforts by mediators to reach a temporary truce.

In the rare statement, carried by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Mossad said Barnea met on Friday with his American counterpart, “as part of the ceaseless effort to advance another deal for the return of the hostages.” The meeting reportedly took place in Amman, Jordan.

“At this stage, Hamas is fortifying its position as if it is not interested in a deal, and it strives to ignite the region during Ramadan at the expense of the Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip,” the Mossad said.

The Mossad added that “the talks and cooperation with the mediators continue all the time in an attempt to narrow the gaps and advance agreements.”

The statement came as US, Egyptian, and Qatari mediators scrambled to secure a six-week truce in the five-month-old war in Gaza before Ramadan. Those efforts have been ongoing for weeks and are based on a framework reached in Paris last month. READ MORE