US President Joe Biden’s top adviser on the Middle East, Brett McGurk, is heading to the region for talks with officials in Israel, the West Bank, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and other nations, the White House said.

A statement from the White House reads:

"In Israel, he will discuss Israel’s security needs, the imperative of protecting civilians in the course of military operations, as well as ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages, and the need to rein in violent extremist settlers in the West Bank."

While in Israel, McGurk will meet Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and defence minister Yoav Gallant and the heads of Israel’s security services and intelligence community, Axios reported on Monday.