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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 475

Brett McGurk

US President Joe Biden, right, meets with US President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, November 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
January 16, 2025, 9:58 am
On a deadline: How Biden and Trump brokered hostage deal before ‘all hell’ broke loose
Mediators used framework outlined by outgoing US president and were empowered by Israel’s weakening of Iranian axis, but needed assistance from US president-elect to close the deal
By Jacob Magid
US President Joe Biden, center, with Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, right, speaks in the Cross Hall of the White House on the announcement of a ceasefire deal in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages after more than 15 months of war, January 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
January 16, 2025, 6:43 am
Biden: US-backed pressure on Iranian axis helped secure hostage deal, end of Gaza war
Outgoing US officials acknowledge that cooperation from Trump’s team provided boost, argue that Israel’s ‘defanging’ of Hezbollah isolated Hamas enough for it to accept ceasefire
By Jacob Magid
Left: White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk, April 18, 2024. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images via AFP); Right: US envoy Amos Hochstein, October 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
October 30, 2024, 5:20 pm
US mediators jet to Israel for talks on 60-day truce with Hezbollah
Plan envisions ceasefire leading to boosted implementation of UN Resolution 1701, but reports suggest Jerusalem seeking ability to act in southern Lebanon should it be threatened
By Agencies, Jacob Magid and ToI Staff
A drone from Lebanon explodes on a bridge in Nahariya, October 29, 2024 (Video screenshot; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
October 30, 2024, 1:32 pm
Drone hits Nahariya, IDF warns Lebanese to flee Baalbek as US mediators head to region
IDF probing why radar didn’t pick up UAV before reported strike on aviation plant; two hurt by rocket in Metula; Biden envoys McGurk, Hochstein set to push ceasefire proposal
By Emanuel Fabian, ToI Staff and Jacob Magid
Rescuers work at the scene of an Israeli missile strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, September 20, 2024. Hezbollah later confirmed the strike killed top commander Ibrahim Aqil. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
September 21, 2024, 8:32 pm
US officials say killing of top Hezbollah man a ‘good outcome’ and ‘nobody sheds a tear’
At the same time, Washington says its policy is to prevent full-blown war between Israel and Lebanese terror group
By ToI Staff
White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk arrives at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, April 18, 2024. (Kent Nishimura/ Getty Images/ AFP)
September 21, 2024, 4:03 pm
US Mideast czar says ‘nobody shedding a tear’ for Hezbollah’s Aqil, but hints at unease
Brett McGurk highlights terror commander Ibrahim Aqil’s role in deadly US Embassy bombing in Beirut in 1983, but acknowledges ‘disagreements with the Israelis on tactics’
By Jacob Magid
A rally calling for the release of Israelis held kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in Gaza at Central Park in New York City, on September 1, 2024. (Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)
September 2, 2024, 11:47 am
Biden, Harris to huddle with US negotiators for Gaza deal push after hostage killings
White House working on ‘take it or leave it’ proposal that could spell end of US mediation efforts, Washington Post reports; Israel’s UN envoy demands Security Council convene
By Lazar Berman
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) meets White House Middle East czar Brett McGurk in Jerusalem, July 10, 2024. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)
July 10, 2024, 7:07 pm
PM tells Biden envoy he wants deal ‘as long as Israel’s red lines are maintained’
Brett McGurk meets with Netanyahu and Gallant after Cairo summit; defense minister says IDF will withdraw from Gaza-Egypt border if solution found for arms smuggling
By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff
People walk past a large mural reading "Now" at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv. June 2, 2024. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
June 5, 2024, 1:42 am
CIA chief returns to region to push hostage deal as Israel vows not to budge further
Hamas demands proposal make clear that deal will lead to end of war; US says ‘we just need to get a ceasefire’ and that terror group’s postwar role in Gaza can be ironed out later
By Jacob Magid
Brett McGurk, US White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, speaks during the 17th IISS Manama Dialogue in the Bahraini capital Manama on November 21, 2021. (Mazen Mahdi/AFP)
May 18, 2024, 8:45 pm
US officials hold indirect talks with Iran in Oman to prevent regional escalation
White House Middle East envoy Brett McGurk and acting special envoy on Iran Abram Paley conveyed to Tehran consequences of aggression, Axios says
By ToI Staff and Jacob Magid
War cabinet member Benny Gantz arrives at the US State Department ahead of a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on March 5, 2024 in Washington DC. (Drew Angerer/AFP)
March 6, 2024, 4:36 am
Biden aides to Gantz: Gaza aid convoy disaster shows need for viable post-war plans
US officials say incident wouldn’t have occurred if more was done to get aid to Gazans, warn it could portend Strip’s future if Israel won’t advance clear alternative to Hamas rule
By Jacob Magid
US Vice President Kamala Harris (2nd right) hosts war cabinet minister Benny Gantz (2nd left) at the White House on March 4, 2024 (Office of VP Kamala Harris)
March 5, 2024, 2:04 am
Hosting Gantz, Harris balances praise of Israel with criticism over Gaza aid crisis
VP stresses US alarm over humanitarian situation in Strip, urges boosted aid, notes Jerusalem’s ‘constructive approach’ in hostage talks; Gantz backs international aid mechanism
By Jacob Magid
In a photo provided by activists, hostages' families set up a Shabbat dinner table and urge an immediate deal to release their loved ones from captivity, blocking the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv, February 23, 2024. (Amir Terkel)
February 23, 2024, 9:37 pm
Israeli team holds hostage talks in Paris, amid cautious optimism for progress
Mossad and Shin Bet chiefs meet US, Qatari and Egyptian envoys after reported ‘softening’ of Hamas demands, but officials stress a deal is not imminent
By ToI Staff and Agencies
Families of Israelis held in Hamas captivity protest calling for the government to find a solution to have the hostages released, outside IDF military headquarters in Tel Aviv, February 20, 2024. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
February 23, 2024, 12:04 am
War cabinet votes to dispatch Israeli team to Paris for fresh try at hostage talks
High-level forum approves sending negotiators led by Mossad head to French capital on Friday; decision comes amid reports this week that Hamas has softened its demands
By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff
This handout photo shows Defense Minister Yoav Gallant meeting with US envoy Brett McGurk, February 22, 2024. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)
February 22, 2024, 5:36 pm
Israel to decide on sending team to hostage talks amid cautious signs of progress
Gallant tells Biden envoy Brett McGurk that Israel will give its negotiators more leeway; official says war cabinet, security cabinet to hash out whether to send team to Paris
By Lazar Berman
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