Hochstein reportedly sees 'serious chance' for Gaza truce, Lebanon deal
U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein has contacted Lebanese figures and spoken of a “serious chance” to reach a truce agreement in Gaza, which would allow for agreeing special arrangements for the situation on the Lebanese-Israeli border, a media report said.
The Lebanese figures have quoted Hochstein as saying that the Americans and many sides believe that the situations in south Lebanon and the Red Sea are linked to the situation in Gaza, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Tuesday.
“Nevertheless, the U.S. envoy has called for mulling a mechanism for curbing the exchanges of hostilities on the southern Lebanese border, in a manner that would be in harmony with the decrease in the intensity of the military operations in the Gaza Strip,” the daily added.
The Nidaa al-Watan newspaper meanwhile reported that Hochstein is “optimistic” about the possibility of reaching a new border deal between Lebanon and Israel.
The U.S. envoy is “declining to reveal the details or nature of the guarantees that he will offer to Israel, but he is saying that finalizing this agreement is not difficult,” the daily added.
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