In a shocking turn of events, Egyptian intelligence reportedly altered the terms of a ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hamas, effectively derailing a potential agreement that could have led to the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. According to three sources familiar with the discussions, the changes made by Egyptian intelligence led to frustration and anger among officials from the United States, Qatar, and Israel, leaving the ceasefire talks at an impasse.

The altered ceasefire agreement, announced by Hamas on May 6, was not what the Qatari and American mediators had expected. The details of the modifications made by Egyptian intelligence, led by senior official Ahmed Abdel Khalek, have not been previously reported. It is alleged that Abdel Khalek told Israeli officials one thing and Hamas another, inserting more of Hamas's demands into the original framework that Israel had already agreed to.

The news left CIA Director Bill Burns, who has been spearheading the American efforts to broker a ceasefire, feeling angry and embarrassed. Having been in the region at the time when the changes were made, Burns felt blindsided and believed it made him appear uninformed or neglectful in informing the Israelis of the alterations.

The motive behind Egypt's actions remains unclear, raising questions about their role as a key intermediary between Israel and Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his concerns about continuing negotiations involving Egypt, stating that Israel could not agree to terms that would allow Hamas to attack Israel again.

The alterations to the ceasefire proposal came after weeks of ongoing talks, with optimism growing that a deal was imminent. Israel had demonstrated willingness to make concessions, including the release of Palestinian prisoners and allowing the return of Gazans to the north of the enclave. However, the discovery of Egypt's actions halted the progress.

Determined to salvage the proposal, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and CIA Director Burns attempted to rebalance the agreement with elements that they knew Israel would require. However, it became apparent that Hamas would not agree to what Israel had already accepted.

Negotiations ultimately stalled, and the talks were put on hold. Despite earlier optimism, a deal seemed further away than initially anticipated. The situation deteriorated further as Israel began military operations in Rafah, disregarding concerns raised by the Biden administration regarding the safety of the civilians who had sought refuge in the area.

As the region continues to grapple with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Egypt's role in the ceasefire negotiations has come under scrutiny. The question of motives behind the alterations made by Egyptian intelligence remains unanswered, leaving concerns about their future involvement in resolving the conflict.