CIA director Bill Burns is expected to travel to Doha next week to join negotiations on the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, two Israeli sources said.
Why it matters: Burns is expected to hold a joint meeting with the Prime Minister of Qatar, the director of the Israeli Mossad and the head of the Egyptian intelligence service in an effort to push forward the deal that could lead to the release of 120 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and end nine months of war.
Hamas' demand for written commitments from the U.S., Egypt and Qatar is a key gap that remains before mediators can come to the table and start to hash out the details of a hostage and ceasefire deal in Gaza, two Israeli officials told Axios.
Why it matters: Israeli and U.S. officials are more optimistic than before that the latest back and forth with Hamas leaders can lead to a deal to release hostages being held in Gaza and establish "sustainable calm" in the enclave.
Keir Starmer became the U.K.'s new prime minister on Friday, one day after Britain's center-left Labour Party sailed to a landslide victory in the country's elections.
Why it matters: The change in government will likely result in a shift in U.S. relations with one of its closest allies, which for 14 years was governed by the Conservatives.
Liz Truss, the shortest-serving prime minister in British history, lost her seat to a candidate representing the Labour Party, which has swept to power in the country's general election, officials confirmed Friday.
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conceded defeat to the center-left Labour Party early Friday, which was projected to win by a landslide in the country's general election — delivering a huge blow to the ruling Conservative Party after 14 years in power.
The big picture:Incumbents are on a losing streak all over the world — particularly in Europe, where inflation has fueled voter discontent. In Britain, however, the Conservatives' looming defeat is largely of their own making.
