House Intelligence Chair Mike Turner on Sunday claimed he was told by CIA Director William Burns "we're close" to reaching a cease-fire deal in the Israel-Hamas war after weeks of negotiations and mediation with international leaders.
Turner told CBS News's "Face the Nation" anchor Margaret Brennan he was briefed last Friday by Burns on the status of negotiations.
"He believes that we're close and I think that's...very, very important to accomplish," Turner said Sunday. "One, because there are hostages that are still being held as a result of Hamas and the murderous onslaught of October 7, but also because of the desperate need for aid to get into Gaza."
His remarks come just one day after Israel reportedly agreed to the framework of a proposed temporary cease-fire and hostage release deal. A senior U.S. administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press on Saturday that the Israelis "have more or less accepted" the framework, leaving the decision up to the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
If accepted, the deal would include a six-week cease-fire and Hamas would release hostages considered at risk, according to the U.S. official. It would also pave the way for a larger influx of humanitarian aid into Gaza, which has been devastated by Israel's military operations.
Over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds of thousands of others have been driven from their homes as Israel attempts to eliminate Hamas after the terrorist group's attack on Oct. 7 that killed over 1,200 people in southern Israel.
Brennan pointed to President Biden's comments last week, in which he said the U.S. will insist Israel facilitate more trucks and routes for aid amid reports Israel is blocking aid to Palestinians.
Asked if there should be consequences for Israel standing in the way of aid, Turner said, "I think as Director Burns is negotiating, we're really close to a cease-fire that is going to resolve this issue."
"And it's going to open up the aid corridors and certainly, I think in any conflict, both sides need to be held accountable and I think certainty there are going to be questions as to what Israel has done and the manner in which it has operated," he continued.
"But it doesn't take away from the issue that the Palestinians are in a crisis because of Hamas and the fact that Hamas and attacking Israel and in the manner in which they have hidden during this conflict, have allowed the condition of Palestinians to be in this state, certainly says a lot about Hamas," he added.
