2024-02-20 21:41:15
White House Middle East Affairs Coordinator Brett McGurk returns to the Middle East once more amid continued faltering negotiations between Israel and Hamas, and amid regional and international fears that the Israeli army will carry out its threat to invade the Rafah area, as he is scheduled to visit Cairo on Wednesday, then Tel Aviv on the day. Next, amid hopes that he will succeed in advancing mediation efforts between the two sides of the conflict, and convincing the Israeli government to postpone its expected ground operation.
Speaking to Sky News Arabia, observers and analysts believe that McGurk is viewed as “Biden’s strong man” in the Middle East region by virtue of his efforts since the outbreak of the current conflict to prevent the conflict from escalating and to secure a deal between the two sides, based on his extensive experience. In the region, they explained that the hostage deal issue and the attack on Rafah would be the top priorities of his current visit.
In early 2021, Joe Biden appointed diplomat Brett McGurk responsible for the Middle East and North Africa in the National Security Council.
What does McGurk discuss?
* The Axios news website, citing 3 Israeli and American officials, said that Biden’s chief Middle East advisor is scheduled to hold talks regarding the possible Israeli military operation in Rafah, and the efforts made to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza since the 7th of October.
* Biden’s senior advisor for Middle East affairs will meet in Cairo with the director of the Egyptian Intelligence Service, Major General Abbas Kamel, and other Egyptian officials on Wednesday, according to “Axios.” He is also expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Galant, and other Israeli officials in Israel on Wednesday. Thursday.
* McGurk’s talks in both Cairo and Tel Aviv will focus on the Rafah issue and hostage negotiations, according to the officials, as the United States wants to hear from Israel regarding its operational plan in Rafah, especially regarding how to evacuate civilians from the area if that operation goes ahead.
* The White House is deeply concerned that any potential Israeli military operation in Rafah would lead to significant loss of life, given the presence of regarding 1.4 million displaced Palestinians, at a time when Biden had previously told Netanyahu that he opposes such an operation without a “credible and implementable plan.” To evacuate Palestinian civilians.
* The United States and Egypt also fear that this process will push tens of thousands of Palestinians to cross the border, as Cairo has previously warned of the repercussions of this step and stressed its opposition to it.
* McGurk’s visit to the Middle East is considered the latest in a series of ongoing talks between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and America, to stop the war and release more than 100 hostages held by Hamas.
* Reuters quoted American officials as saying, “The ongoing hostage talks are productive, but require more continuous work.”
* This visit coincides with the arrival of the head of the Hamas Political Bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, to Egypt to hold talks with Egyptian officials regarding the situation in the Gaza Strip.
Visit at precise timing
For his part, former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East Affairs Mike Mulroy, in an interview with Sky News Arabia, considered that McGurk’s visit comes at a precise time, indicating that he will focus during his discussions on the situation in Gaza, and specifically the need To avoid mass casualties among civilians with the possibility of a ground attack by the Israeli army on Rafah.
Mulroy, who previously worked for the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), indicated that McGurk will also focus on the hostage exchange file, as well as the need to significantly increase humanitarian aid in Gaza through multiple entry points.
Regarding the success of the Middle East Affairs Coordinator in the White House in advancing the truce negotiations in Gaza, Mulroy explained that “it might help in reaching a temporary truce between the two sides and push forward the negotiation process.” However, he stressed that the faltering negotiations are mainly due to the fact that “Israel “It will not accept an agreement that leaves Hamas in place, as it will insist on continuing its campaign to eliminate its capabilities.”
Biden’s trusted man
From Washington, the journalist writer specializing in American affairs, Heba Al-Qudsi, indicated in statements to the “Sky News Arabia” website that “McGurk” is one of the figures in whom President Biden has great confidence regarding Middle East issues, adding: “He is one of 4 “Men who are trusted in the US administration to manage the file of discussions between Israel and Hamas and the Egyptian and Qatari officials, along with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, CIA Director William Burns, and National Security Advisor Jack Sullivan.”
Al-Qudsi pointed out that this is not McGurk’s first visit to the Middle East, as it was preceded by several successive visits since October 7, and he has close relations with all Israeli, Egyptian and Qatari officials.
Regarding his priorities during the visit, she said that “in this visit he carries a message from Biden regarding further strengthening efforts to conclude a deal to release the hostages in Gaza, including 8 Americans, before any military invasion of Rafah, and before the month of Ramadan.”
Al-Qudsi indicated that the Biden administration is trying to put pressure on the movement through Egyptian and Qatari mediators Hamas to release the hostages without strict conditions, in exchange for restraining Israel from carrying out a military operation in Rafah.
It was considered that the Biden administration wants to achieve a political victory by announcing the release of hostages, especially Americans, and reaching a truce that will last 6 weeks and can be extended.
However, Al-Qudsi believes that “if Hamas responds to the current efforts, the United States will put more pressure on the Israeli side to agree to the idea of a permanent ceasefire and move forward with negotiations for a two-state solution, and thus it will put pressure on Hamas so that it can put pressure on Israel.”
She concluded her speech by saying, “The American side stands with Israel politically, diplomatically, and militarily, and agrees with Tel Aviv in pursuing Hamas until the last point, but at the same time it wants to achieve a political victory that adds momentum to President Biden, and this is McGurk’s current mission.”
Biden: We are working to achieve a six-week truce that will allow an agreement to be reached
Who is McGurk?
* He previously worked during the era of President George W. Bush as Special Assistant to Bush, then Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iraq and Iran Affairs. During the Obama era, he worked as a Senior Advisor to the National Security Council and the US Ambassador to Iraq.
* He also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iraq and Iran Affairs, and during the period from October 2014 to January 2016, he led secret negotiations with Iran that led to the exchange of prisoners and the release of 4 Americans from Iran.
* He was the US presidential envoy to the international coalition to combat the terrorist organization ISIS.
* McGurk was scheduled to leave the position in mid-February 2019, but he announced his resignation in 2018 following Trump’s decision to withdraw US forces from Syria.
* Along with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, McGurk was heavily involved in efforts to release hostages held by Hamas during the first deal at the end of last year.
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