Hope for Peace: Cyprus and U.S. Aims for Ceasefire in the Middle East

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and U.S. President Joe Biden discussed efforts to halt conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah. Optimism surrounds a potential ceasefire in weeks. The U.S. plans a 60-day ceasefire proposal, amid humanitarian aid shipments by Cyprus to Gaza and potential evacuations.

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides expressed optimism on Wednesday about potential peace efforts following a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden. Discussions focused on U.S. strategies to halt ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, with hopes for a ceasefire in the coming weeks.

Despite refraining from delving into specifics, Christodoulides highlighted the involvement of key White House officials, Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein. These officials are set to visit Israel to tackle significant regional issues, indicating the strategic breadth of these talks.

The proposed plan suggests a 60-day ceasefire to allow the execution of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, pivotal in disarming southern Lebanon. Cyprus is contributing by sending humanitarian aid to Gaza and is prepared to evacuate nationals from the region if required, underlining Cyprus's active role in pursuing regional peace.

(With inputs from agencies.)