CIA director William Burns met with officials from Egypt, Israel, and Qatar amid growing international pressure for a truce between Hamas and Israel.
Burns held talks with Mossad chief David Barnea, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, and some Egyptian officials.
The meeting centered on a temporary ceasefire and a hostage release deal. The meeting took place as Israel plans to expand its military offensive to the city of Rafah in southern Gaza where more than one million Palestinians are seeking refuge.
U.S. President Joe Biden has appointed Burns to pave the way in securing a ceasefire and a hostage deal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the ground assault aims to destroy the remaining strongholds of Hamas in Rafah and assured to provide safe passage for civilians to leave the area.
The spy chief also traveled to France last month to discuss the Gaza ceasefire with officials from Qatar, Egypt, and Israel.
