Brett McGurk's new book, 'Brink,' details the U.S. effort to free hostages captured on Oct. 7, 2023. McGurk, who led the White House's Middle East coordination, describes a two-year diplomatic grind marked by frustration and exhaustion. The book reveals that the U.S. nearly cut off weapons to Israel after the April 2024 death of aid workers but paused due to an impending Iranian attack. McGurk also highlights the failure to act on early Saudi normalization offers and the lack of U.S. intelligence warnings prior to the Hamas attack.
Brett McGurk, a former senior Middle East adviser to President Biden, disclosed in a new interview that the U.S. president was on the verge of imposing severe sanctions on Israel following the April 2024 drone strike that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers. McGurk stated that Biden only halted this potential 'draconian' response after intelligence revealed an imminent, large-scale Iranian aerial attack on Israel. The former aide also detailed the Biden administration's internal debates over cutting off weapons supplies, its failure to act on early Saudi normalization offers, and the lack of U.S. intelligence warnings prior to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
Journalist Akbar Shahid Ahmed’s new book, 'Crossing the Red Line,' details how former Biden administration officials enabled Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The text argues that key figures, including Jake Sullivan and Brett McGurk, prioritized a 'bearhug' strategy that ignored humanitarian crises to maintain leverage. Critics argue this approach allowed a genocide to occur, while the administration avoided formal legal conclusions on Israeli conduct. The book highlights a culture of complicity among senior officials who are now seeking to shift blame to President Biden.
The US has successfully reimposed a blockade on Iranian oil exports, causing global energy flows to recover to two-thirds of pre-war levels. This shift removes Tehran's primary leverage, forcing Iran to choose between escalating military threats or negotiating from a weakened economic position.
US Middle East envoy Brett McGurk is set to visit Egypt and Israel to facilitate negotiations for a hostage deal and ensure the safety of Palestinian civilians in any potential IDF military operation in Gaza's Rafah. The US is pushing for a pause in the Gaza war and increased humanitarian aid, while also emphasizing the need for Israel to protect civilians during its efforts to destroy Hamas. Hamas is currently in Cairo for hostage talks, and the US has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, citing the importance of not allowing Hamas to escape accountability for its actions.
The White House is walking back comments made by Brett McGurk, a top aide, who suggested that the release of hostages in Gaza could be tied to increased humanitarian aid. The White House claims that McGurk's comments were taken out of context and that the US does not support conditions on the delivery of aid. Critics argue that McGurk's remarks implied that aid would be withheld until hostages are released. Meanwhile, Israel led journalists to an exposed tunnel shaft in Gaza, which they claim is evidence of Hamas' alleged operation center under a hospital. China welcomed foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, and the Palestinian Authority to discuss ending the war in Gaza. France is not worried about America's commitment to supporting Ukraine, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made an unannounced visit to Ukraine to push for continued aid. Taiwan's deputy minister of foreign affairs warned that China's digital invasion of Taiwan has already begun. Right-wing libertarian Javier Milei was elected as Argentina's president, drawing comparisons to former President Donald Trump. House Republicans are pushing for additional funding for the Indo-Pacific to confront China. Democratic lawmakers are divided over whether to condition future military aid to Israel. South Korea threatened to resume aerial surveillance and suspend an agreement with North Korea if it launches a spy satellite.
