Mossad Chief: Ceasefire in Lebanon must be linked to release of hostages in Gaza

Mossad Chief David Barnea informed CIA Director William Burns that any ceasefire agreement in Lebanon must be tied to the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, according to the Hebrew news site "Walla."

The Hebrew site, citing senior American sources, reported that during a phone call between the two, Barnea conveyed Tel Aviv’s condition for a ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon to the CIA Director.

The report noted that Hezbollah, which has demanded Tel Aviv halt its military operations in Gaza, "is now in a position to agree to a ceasefire in Lebanon, potentially abandoning its demands related to the Gaza conflict."

The article also added, "In return, Tel Aviv is trying to push Washington to ensure that any ceasefire deal in Lebanon includes a condition for the release of hostages held in Gaza."