On video: US President Biden's statement in Israel in which he clarifies that the return of the abductees is a top priority/Photo: Reuters
President Biden's senior adviser on Middle East affairs, Brett McGurk, will visit Egypt and Qatar this week for talks on efforts to free the hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip - according to three sources familiar with the matter.
why is it important
This will be the second time in two weeks that McGregor has come to the region for talks on the release of the hostages, after his visit to Doha on January 9.
The visit comes as part of a renewed effort by the Biden administration to promote a deal for the release of the abductees.
Senior officials in the Biden administration admit that reaching a deal to release the abductees is probably the only way to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Brett McGurk, Coalition, ISIS, United States, December 22, 2018/Official website, Getimages
in the news center
McGarrack is expected to leave for the Middle East today (Sunday) and first visit Cairo for talks with Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, according to the two sources.
Along with the government of Qatar, Egyptian intelligence is one of the two mediators between Israel and Hamas regarding the release of the abductees.
Later this week, McGregor will arrive in Doha and meet with the Prime Minister of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, for talks on the various proposals to promote a deal.
Last week, McGurk held consultations with senior Israeli officials on the subject of negotiations on the release of the abductees. President Biden discussed the issue of the abductees with Prime Minister Netanyahu during their phone call on Friday.
McGarrack is expected to discuss in Doha and Cairo also the developments in the war in Gaza and the growing tensions in Lebanon and against the Houthis in Yemen.
The White House refused to comment on the matter.
Brett McGurk at the Manama Dialogue conference in Bahrain/Official website, IISS screenshot
what are they saying
"We are in serious talks to get a new deal to release the hostages in Gaza," White House spokesman John Kirby said Friday.
But he clarified that there is no breakthrough.
"There is still a lot of work ahead of us," he stressed.
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