According to local media, CIA Director William Burns arrived in Israel on February 15 on an unannounced visit for talks with senior Israeli officials.
After his arrival, Burns met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad chief David Barnea, Israel's Channel 12 reported.
The reason for the visit is not yet clear, but according to the Yediot Ahronot newspaper, it is related to Netanyahu's refusal to send a security delegation to Egypt to continue negotiations on a hostage exchange deal with Hamas.
There has been no comment yet from Netanyahu's office on the report.
Officials from Israel, Egypt, Qatar, and the US held a meeting in Cairo on Tuesday to discuss a Gaza ceasefire and a hostage exchange between Hamas and Israel.
Last week, Hamas proposed a three-stage cease-fire plan in Gaza that includes a 135-day pause in fighting in exchange for the release of hostages, according to a Palestinian source.
Netanyahu, however, rejected Hamas' proposal for a ceasefire and vowed to continue the war in Gaza until a "crushing victory" over the Palestinian group.
Israel believes 134 Israelis are being held in Gaza after the Israeli army managed to free two hostages in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah on Monday.
Israel has been shelling the Gaza Strip since a Hamas attack on October 7, killing at least 28,663 people and causing widespread destruction and shortages of essential goods. Nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack.
Israel's war against Gaza has led to the displacement of the population of up to 85% of the territory./BGNES
