Residents of Beirut expressed scepticism on Wednesday, following the visit of senior U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein, who had stated there was a “real opportunity” to end the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Hochstein held talks with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Tuesday, just after the Lebanese government and Iran-backed Hezbollah agreed to a U.S. ceasefire proposal, though with reservations about its content.
In central Beirut, resident Kamal el-Koush shared his optimism after hearing Berri’s comments on the talks, but noted that “the ball is now with the Americans and the Israelis,” emphasising that the outcome depended on Washington’s intentions towards Lebanon.
Another Beirut resident, Ahmad Shaib, expressed that while Lebanon sought a solution, he felt it was unlikely that negotiations would lead to an immediate ceasefire.