A senior Lebanese official and a U.S. official revealed today, Sunday, that U.S. envoy Amos Hoekstein will visit Beirut tomorrow, Monday, to continue diplomatic efforts aimed at halting the escalation of the conflict along the Lebanese-Israeli border and achieving stability. Lebanese Deputy Parliament Speaker Elias Bou Saab told Reuters that he believes the timing of Hoekstein's visit indicates progress in efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza "in the coming hours or days." Bou Saab is one of the officials scheduled to meet with him.
He added, "If this happens, I think that Hoekstein's visit this time will have great significance in aligning with the ceasefire on our southern borders and discussing what is needed for stability and ending the possibility of war expanding into Lebanon." The U.S. official did not provide further details about the visit. Washington claims that a ceasefire agreement in Gaza is imminent, aiming for it to take effect at the beginning of Ramadan, which is in a week.
However, an Israeli newspaper reported that Israel halted talks in Cairo on Sunday after the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) rejected Israel's demand to provide a complete list of hostages who are still alive. Hezbollah has openly indicated that it will stop attacks on Israel from Lebanon once the Israeli assault on Gaza ceases, also stating that it is prepared to continue fighting if Israel continues its military actions.
Bou Saab noted that Hoekstein "has serious ideas that could mark the beginning of a sustainable solution and stability, and avert the specter of war that would not be in anyone's interest." Hoekstein previously mediated a rare diplomatic agreement between Lebanon and Israel in 2022 to delineate their maritime borders and visited Beirut for that purpose in January.
