Oil prices drop as Middle East cease-fire talks intensify

By Duygu Alhan

Oil prices fell on Monday as growing efforts to secure a cease-fire in the Middle East, which holds a significant portion of the world's oil reserves, eased supply concerns.

International benchmark Brent crude slipped 0.4% to $76.64 per barrel at 10:32 a.m. local time (0732 GMT), down from the previous session’s close of $76.93. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) also saw a decrease of 0.6%, settling at $73.12 per barrel after closing at $73.55 the previous session.

Oil prices had surged to $80.20 following an announcement on August 26 by Libya’s eastern-based government, led by Osama Hammad, that it would suspend oil production. However, prices have since remained below $80 over the past four sessions.

The recent decline in prices is attributed to the increased prospects of a cease-fire in the Middle East, which has alleviated market concerns about supply disruptions.

On Monday, a nationwide strike in Israel, led by the General Organization of Workers, Histadrut, heightened the urgency for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure an immediate cease-fire and negotiate a prisoner exchange with the Palestinian group Hamas. The strike, which has been rapidly spreading following large-scale protests, is aimed at pushing the government to address demands for the release of hostages held in Gaza.

The massive protests, involving nearly 770,000 Israelis in cities like Tel Aviv, have intensified expectations that a cease-fire is imminent. This sentiment has contributed to the downward movement in oil prices by easing concerns about potential supply shortages.