The C.I.A. director, William J. Burns, arrived in Qatar on Wednesday for cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas. The pace of the peace talks has picked up recently, as the wars in Lebanon and Syria have weakened Hamas’s allies. Additionally, the Trump administration’s upcoming return to office has put additional pressure on the negotiations. Burns is hoping to advance the talks and negotiate an end to the war in Gaza, freeing the remaining hostages. Officials believe both sides could be close to a truce. 

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