Amid optimism over Middle East ceasefire, Biden officials head to Israel to meet PM Netanyahu

As per the NBC News report, Brett McGurk, National Security Council coordinator for the Middle East, and Amos Hochstein, a US special envoy with a focus on Lebanon are bound to meet senior officials from the Israeli administration.

The US official, quoted in the report, said that McGurk and Hochstein will lead the talks with Israeli counterparts on multiple issues, including hostilities in Gaza and Lebanon, ceasefire deal, hostages, Iran among others.

🚨CIA Director Bill Burns proposed a new hostage deal at the Doha summit: a 28-day ceasefire in exchange for Hams releasing “around” 8 Israeli hostages (8 women of all ages or men over the age of 50) and Israel releasing dozens of Palestinian terrorist prisoners. (Axios)

— Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) October 29, 2024

Another significant personality, Commander of US Central Command Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, is also poised to travel to the Middle East in order to discuss regional defense. Alongside him, the CIA Director William Burns will be traveling to Cairo on Thursday for talks on the ceasefire deal in the Middle East and other issues.

The United States and regional mediators, including Qatar and Egypt, are hoping that some progress can be made in achieving a ceasefire deal amid the raging hostilities in the Middle East and pause the war in Gaza and Lebanon.

“The feeling in the security echelon is they have had quite a bit of success against Hezbollah and it’s time to quit while you’re ahead,” the NBC News report stated quoting a source.

However, Hezbollah’s newly appointed leader, Naim Kassem, in his first public remarks stated that the militant group would continue fighting in its war with Israel until acceptable ceasefire terms are presented.

“If the Israelis choose to halt their aggression, we are open to it, but only under conditions that we consider suitable. We will not plead for a ceasefire; we are prepared to continue (fighting) for as long as it takes,” Kassem said.

Kassem became the Hezbollah chief as Israel killed Hassan Nasrallah, the erstwhile leader of Hezbollah militant group, in an airstrike in a Beirut suburb in September.