Amid rising tensions and escalating threats, U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein made a quick visit to Beirut ahead of negotiations set to resume today, Thursday, in Doha involving Qatar, Egypt, and Israel to discuss a ceasefire deal for Gaza and southern Lebanon. Additionally, French Foreign Minister Stéphane Sigourey is arriving today in Beirut and is scheduled to meet several officials.
The discussions that Hochstein held with Lebanese officials were characterized by frankness and seriousness, reminding that this visit was made at the request of U.S. President Joe Biden before the Doha negotiations began. He emphasized that the visit would positively impact Lebanon, stating that it is time to stop the cycle of war which has dragged on for too long. He confirmed that Biden is tirelessly working towards an agreement that would result in a diplomatic solution in Lebanon, thereby preventing a major explosion or war and helping displaced persons return to their homes.
For his part, President Berri reaffirmed the necessity of stopping the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza for ten months, expressing deep concern over Israel's escalatory actions, particularly cross-border assassinations in locations like Tehran and Beirut, not to mention the daily massacres committed against children and civilians in Gaza, the latest being against worshippers at the Al-Tahseen School. He reiterated Lebanon's commitment to extending UNIFIL forces according to the principles of Resolution 1701, which Lebanon demands be fully implemented.
Sources accompanying the U.S. envoy's visit indicated in a statement to the "Anbaa" electronic newspaper that the American intentions for reaching a ceasefire deal and releasing prisoners might be sincere. As Hochstein stated, a ceasefire in Gaza could reflect on southern Lebanon. However, this is immediately confronted by Israel's insistence on prolonging the war, eliminating Hamas, and displacing Palestinians from Gaza to Sinai, which is indicative of the barbaric massacres the enemy commits daily against defenseless Palestinian refugees.
The sources also pointed to the presence of American warships in the Mediterranean, questioning the justification behind their presence and whether it reflects Hochstein's calls for calm. They described Hochstein's visit as an attempt to save face and capitalize on the votes of Lebanese and Arab voters, particularly supporting Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris, but noted that it would not change the course of the war waged by Israel on Gaza and southern Lebanon, as its policy is based on bloodshed and capitalizing on the absence of international pressure.
The sources highlighted that if Hezbollah agrees to a ceasefire independent of Gaza, it would imply a truce in northern occupied territories, allowing Israel to escalate its crimes in Gaza and undermine the Oslo Accords while annexing the West Bank to Israel, with the eventual goal of expelling Palestinians from 1948 and establishing a greater Israel. They emphasized that Hochstein's mission is complex and exceeds polished statements and sweet talk, as Israeli intentions have become well known, especially with ongoing threats to eliminate Hamas and destroy Lebanon.
Despite the diplomatic activity in Lebanon, the reality indicates that there are no tangible signs of a ceasefire so far, and although positive sentiments dominate the statements of the envoys, the enemy continues its brutality without restraint, which warns of difficult days ahead for the region if conditions remain unchanged, according to the "Anbaa" electronic newspaper.
