Biden Adviser Engages with Qatari Leaders to Address Israel-Hamas Negotiations

President Joe Biden’s top Middle East adviser, Brett McGurk, held discussions in Doha with senior Qatari officials regarding efforts to broker a cease-fire and a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, The Associated Press reports.

The officials met after Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani’s trip to Tehran on Monday, where he met with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The ongoing negotiations come as efforts to establish a cease-fire, aimed to secure at least a temporary halt to hostilities between Israel and Hamas, have shifted to Doha after several intense days of talks in Cairo. A high-level meeting concluded without a final agreement on Sunday, prompting continued discussions at the working-group level on Monday to address outstanding issues. These discussions are set to continue on Wednesday in Doha, though it remains unclear why the talks transitioned from Cairo or what effect this change in venue may have on the negotiations.

An Israeli official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the cease-fire discussions, confirmed that an Israeli delegation is scheduled to travel to Doha on Wednesday.