Hochstein eyes ‘serious chance’ for Gaza truce, Lebanon deal

U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein has been in discussions with Lebanese officials, suggesting a “serious chance” of brokering a truce in Gaza that could also lead to specific arrangements for the Lebanese-Israeli border, according to a media report.

Sources told al-Akhbar newspaper that Hochstein conveyed that both the U.S. and other parties see a connection between the tensions in southern Lebanon, the Red Sea, and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Hochstein has proposed considering a mechanism to reduce hostilities along the southern Lebanese border, aligning with a reduction in military activities in Gaza, the newspaper reported.

Additionally, Nidaa al-Watan newspaper has cited Hochstein as being “optimistic” about the prospects of achieving a new border agreement between Lebanon and Israel. While Hochstein has not disclosed the specifics or the nature of the guarantees he would offer to Israel, he indicated that finalizing such an agreement would not be complicated, the newspaper noted.