Mossad chief reportedly aims to link potential Hezbollah ceasefire deal to Gaza hostage release agreement

The head of Israel's Mossad, its foreign intelligence agency, reportedly discussed with the CIA the possibility of linking a potential Hezbollah ceasefire to a hostage agreement with Hamas in Gaza.

Mossad Chief David Barnea presented CIA Director William Burns with the idea of connecting the two fronts, according to an unnamed security source.

The Iranian-backed terror proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah, attacked Israel the day after the Hamas Oct. 7 massacre in southern Israel, vowing to continue its attacks until a Gaza ceasefire is reached with the Hamas terror group.

The Mossad and CIA have both played prominent roles in the international efforts to secure the release of the remaining 101 Israeli hostages held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza.

Hamas has consistently rejected the proposals, with some sources believing that Hamas chief, Yahya Sinwar, is not interested in a ceasefire agreement. Instead, they believe he is hoping to ignite a full-scale regional war between the Iranian-led Axis and the State of Israel

However, Mossad now reportedly hopes to leverage Israel’s recent military successes against Hezbollah in Lebanon and pressure Hamas into accepting a hostage release agreement.

The security source noted that the Iranian-led Axis, which launched the ongoing war on Israel a year ago, now appears to be outmaneuvered by Israel’s successful counteroffensive measures against the terror groups.

“After the achievements and the strike that we did very efficiently” against Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and given that “the Iranians and Hezbollah are asking” for an end to the hostilities, “we can not promote a ceasefire without the whole package, which means a hostage deal in Gaza,” the source stated.

In the past month, the Israeli military eliminated most of Hezbollah’s top leadership, including its elusive leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Furthermore, the Israeli military has dramatically degraded Hezbollah’s military capabilities by eliminating hundreds of its most experienced fighters and reportedly destroyed about half of the group's rocket arsenal.

Israeli forces in southern Lebanon have eliminated hundreds of Hezbollah fighters in recent days and destroyed many Hezbollah sites.

On Tuesday, Hezbollah’s current figurehead, Naim Qassem, signaled for the first time that the terror group would consider a ceasefire with Israel, which was systematically rejected by Nasrallah.

“We support the political efforts that Nabih Berri is undertaking towards a ceasefire,” Qassem announced, referring to Hezbollah's designated spokesman.

Qassem also warned that Hezbollah forces were prepared to continue fighting against Israel. “If the enemy (Israel) continues its war, then the battlefield will decide.”

A ceasefire could potentially allow Hezbollah to regroup and rearm.

The unnamed security source noted that Israel’s recent military successes against Hezbollah could prompt the Iranian regime and Hezbollah leadership to pressure Hamas into accepting a comprehensive agreement. Such an agreement would include the release of the hostages.

“There is a real opportunity to implement real pressure from Iran and Hezbollah upon [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar,” the security source assessed.

The Hostage and Missing Families Forum expressed cautious optimism about Barnea’s proposal as it “makes it clear to Iran and Hezbollah that a ceasefire is only possible if a deal is signed for the release of all the hostages.”