The fateful day of August 15 has arrived.
William Burns, the CIA director and leader of U.S. foreign policy, will begin the Gaza ceasefire negotiations on August 15 in Doha alongside Qatari, Egyptian, and Israeli officials.
These negotiations were planned and announced last week based on a joint program by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, and both parties involved in Gaza were asked to come to the negotiating table. Biden explicitly stated that he hopes the positive outcomes of the Doha talks will prevent Iran from attacking Israel and avert war. This comes as the situation in the region is very sensitive following Hamas’s rocket attack on Tel Aviv.
The remaining hours until the start of the negotiations are very crucial, and the hope of the U.S. and its allies is that no surprising event will occur during these hours.
Brett McGurk, a senior member of Biden’s foreign policy team, has been negotiating in Egypt, and Amos Hochstein is also in Beirut working to reduce tensions between Hezbollah and Israel.
Biden’s team has entered the field with full force. Qatar represents Hamas in the negotiations, and this organization will send its representatives if satisfied with the progress of the talks.