Hale says war in region possible but unlikely

David Hale, the former U.S. under secretary of state for political affairs and ex-ambassador to Lebanon, has said that he is not optimistic about the ongoing negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

“I'm not optimistic about the ongoing negotiations and the direction they're taking,” Lebanon’s MTV quoted him as saying.

“While the risk of war is possible, I consider it unlikely,” he reportedly added.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meanwhile ended his ninth visit to the Middle East since the war in Gaza began without securing any major breakthrough for a cease-fire deal, warning on Tuesday that “time is of the essence” even as Hamas and Israel signaled that challenges remain.

After meetings in fellow mediating countries Egypt and Qatar, Blinken said that because Israel has accepted a proposal to bridge gaps with the militant group, the focus turns to doing everything possible to “get Hamas on board” and ensure both sides agree to key details on implementation.

There has been added urgency after the recent targeted killings of militant leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah in Iran and Lebanon, both attributed to Israel, and vows of retaliation that have sparked fears of a wider regional war.