WASHINGTON: A senior Biden adviser, Brett McGurk, is set to visit Egypt and Qatar this week to advance talks for the release of hostages held by Hamas and address the ongoing conflict in Gaza, sources familiar with the matter told Axios.
This trip marks McGurk’s second visit to the region in January, with a previous unpublicized visit to Doha on January 9. The Biden administration is actively pushing for progress in securing a hostage deal, acknowledging that such an agreement could be a crucial step towards achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.
McGurk is expected to begin his Middle East trip on Sunday, where he will meet with Egypt’s Minister of Intelligence, Abbas Kamel. The Egyptian intelligence service plays a key role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas in the hostage negotiations.
Later in the week, McGurk is slated to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in Doha. Qatar serves as the second mediator between Hamas and Israel in the ongoing talks.
US Official to Discuss Gaza Crisis in Egypt and Qatar
During the visit, McGurk will also discuss the war in Gaza and address other regional tensions, sources revealed. McGurk had consultations with Israeli officials last week on the hostage negotiations, and President Biden discussed the matter with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday.
White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby commented on the discussions, stating, “The discussions we’re having are sober and serious about potentially getting another hostage deal in place.” However, he emphasized that there is still significant work to be done, indicating that no imminent deal is expected.
As per Israeli officials, over 130 hostages are currently held in Gaza. Despite ongoing negotiations, significant gaps remain, including Hamas’ demand for the end of the Gaza war before any potential hostage deal—a condition rejected by Israel.
