US Biden Sends Additional NSC Middle East Advisor to Israel

[Image source=Yonhap News]

U.S. President Joe Biden is reportedly sending a White House aide in charge of the Middle East to Israel, Qatar, and other countries to discuss the Gaza Strip war and hostage negotiations.

According to foreign media on the 11th (local time), Brett McGurk, the White House National Security Council (NSC) Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, is expected to visit several Middle Eastern countries, including Israel and Qatar, this week.

McGurk is first expected to visit Israel on the 14th to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and intelligence agency leaders.

He is also scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Qatar. Qatar has been mediating negotiations involving the U.S., Israel, and Hamas regarding the release of hostages abducted during Hamas's surprise attack on Israel on the 7th of last month.

On his way to the Middle East, McGurk is expected to stop in Brussels, Belgium, to coordinate views on the Gaza Strip war with NATO and European allies.

William Burns, Director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and Tony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, have also visited Israel and other Middle Eastern countries in the past two weeks for similar purposes.

McGurk's tour of the Middle East and Europe coincides with President Biden and Jake Sullivan, White House National Security Advisor, attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco.

The White House reportedly declined to comment on inquiries regarding McGurk's Middle East trip.