The heads of the CIA and MI6 issue a joint call for a cease-fire in Gaza
LONDON — The heads of the US and British foreign intelligence agencies said on Saturday they were working “relentlessly” toward a ceasefire in Gazawhere they urged peace in a rare joint public statement.
CIA Director William Burns and MI6 chief Richard Moore said their agencies had “exploited our intelligence channels to push hard for restraint and de-escalation.”
In an opinion piece for the Financial Times, the two spymasters said: ceasefire in Israel’s war against Hamas “could end the suffering and horrific loss of life of Palestinian civilians and bring the hostages home after 11 months of hellish confinement.”
Burns has been closely involved in efforts to end the fighting. In August he traveled to Egypt to high-level talks aimed at brokering a hostage deal and at least a temporary cessation of the conflict.
So far, there is no agreement, although US officials insist a deal is close. US President Joe Biden recently said there are “only a few issues” left unresolved. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Reports of a breakthrough are “completely false.”
The US and the UK are both staunch allies of Israel, although London split from Washington on Monday by the suspension of some arms exports to Israel because of the risk that they could be used to violate international law.
Burns and Moore emphasized the strength of the transatlantic relationship in the face of “an unprecedented array of threats,” including an assertive Russia, an increasingly powerful China and the constant threat of international terrorism — all complicated by rapid technological change.
They highlighted Russia’s “reckless campaign of sabotage” across Europe and its “cynical use of technology to spread lies and disinformation aimed at driving wedges between us.”
US officials have long accused Moscow of interference in US electionsand this week the Biden administration seized Kremlin websites and charged employees of Russian broadcaster RT with secretly funding social media campaigns to spread pro-Kremlin messages and sow division around the November presidential election.