Senior U.S. officials are set to meet their Israeli counterparts on Thursday to negotiate a potential agreement aimed at stabilizing Israel’s northern border and reducing the escalating conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

This high-stakes visit comes amid ongoing hostilities in Gaza, where the Palestinian militant group Hamas has rejected multiple ceasefire proposals as Israeli strikes persist.

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Just days before the U.S. presidential election, American envoys Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk are expected to arrive in Israel.

Their mission focuses on securing a framework that could see Hezbollah withdraw approximately 20 miles (30 kilometers) north, beyond the Litani River.

In exchange, Israeli forces would pull back from Lebanon, allowing the Lebanese army, supported by UN peacekeepers, to manage border security.

Under this arrangement, Lebanon would be responsible for preventing Hezbollah from rearming, while Israel would retain its right to self-defense under international law, according to Israeli media reports.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed hope on Wednesday that a ceasefire could be reached “in the coming hours or days.”

Newly appointed Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has indicated that the group would consider a truce under certain conditions, saying Hezbollah could sustain its resistance but remains open to negotiation.

Qassem’s appointment follows the assassination of his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli airstrike last month.

In parallel, U.S. and Qatari mediators are attempting to negotiate a brief humanitarian pause in Gaza, where Israel’s campaign against Hamas is ongoing.

However, on Thursday, senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu reiterated the group’s stance against a temporary ceasefire, stating, “The idea of a temporary pause in the war, only to resume aggression later, is something we have already expressed our position on.

Hamas supports a permanent end to the war, not a temporary one.”

This proposed pause would have allowed essential humanitarian aid to reach Gaza and opened up negotiations for a longer-term resolution, but Hamas’s rejection of the offer dims prospects for an immediate breakthrough.

As a result, attention remains firmly fixed on Lebanon, where efforts for a ceasefire along Israel’s northern front are likely to take precedence.

Last week, Israeli Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi spoke to the growing potential for resolution in Lebanon, saying, “In the north, there’s a possibility of reaching a sharp conclusion.”

Israel’s military has since intensified its strikes, particularly in southern Lebanon, where it issued evacuation orders in areas such as the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidieh, warning of imminent action following previous strikes.

Hezbollah has appointed Naim Qassem as its new secretary-general, following the killing of Hassan Nasrallah by Israeli forces last month.

The announcement was made by the group’s media office in a statement on Tuesday.

Hezbollah’s Senior Council stated that the selection of Qassem adhered to the group’s established leadership protocols.

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Known for his deep-rooted commitment to “Prophet Mohammed’s authentic Islam” and Hezbollah’s founding principles, Qassem brings decades of experience within the organization.

Qassem, who has long served as a prominent figure within Hezbollah, was a close associate of Nasrallah and previously held the position of deputy secretary-general.

The leadership change comes at a volatile time, with increased regional tensions and ongoing conflicts impacting Lebanon.

More to follow………. 

Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has been appointed Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, succeeding Baroness Patricia Scotland of Dominica.

The announcement was made at the close of a tense Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa on Saturday, where reparations and the legacy of colonialism dominated discussions.

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Botchwey, a former lawmaker and Ghana’s foreign minister for seven years, will lead the 56-nation group—an organization primarily composed of former British colonies.

She was one of three candidates competing for the role, all of whom advocated for Britain to address its colonial past.

Her appointment marks Africa’s return to the Commonwealth’s top leadership, following the organization’s established regional rotation.

Botchwey, who recently concluded Ghana’s two-year tenure on the UN Security Council, is known for her strong stance on issues of trade and reparative justice.

Earlier this year in London, she voiced her support for financial reparations, describing it as “good,” and has consistently backed the development of a Commonwealth free trade agreement.

“Truly humbled by the overwhelming support of the Commonwealth Heads of Government in selecting me as the incoming Secretary-General,” Botchwey shared on social media. “The work indeed lies ahead!”

The new Secretary-General is eligible for up to two terms of four years each.

While the organization’s ceremonial head remains King Charles III, Botchwey will take charge of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s operations from London, focusing on democratic governance, trade, education, climate advocacy, and transparency.

Initially expected to spotlight climate change, the Samoa summit became mired in sharp debate over reparations, a topic that may shape Botchwey’s early tenure as she navigates the organization’s complex relationships and priorities.