A diplomatic initiative focusing on ending the conflict in Gaza is set to be launched by Washington, led by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Director of the CIA William Burns. These senior officials from America are anticipated to land in the Middle East in the coming days. They are also tasked with the responsibility of averting a potential full-scale war between Israel, Iran and Hizbullah.
The United States, along with Qatar and Egypt, mediators in this struggle, are expected to assert considerable pressure on the confrontational factions to secure an agreement when negotiations restart this Thursday. It is hoped that making headway on a resolution will likewise ease tensions along the northern frontlines.
Joe Biden, President of the United States, maintains there is still potential for a Gaza ceasefire agreement that would liberate over 100 hostages who have been in bondage for upwards of 300 days. In a previous recording with CBS, he confirmed that his plan is still a workable one and that he is committed to daily efforts to hinder any escalation that may ignite a regional war.
Mediators from Qatar and Egypt, who have found their efforts hampered by stalling tactics employed by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Yahya Sinwar, leader of Hamas, are likely to put forth compromise suggestions, challenging the conflicting parties with an ultimatum to either accept or reject the proposal.
The Israeli military occupancy in Gaza, stopping militants from penetrating northern Gaza again and identifying security prisoners from Palestine for release by Israel under the terms of the agreement are some of the outstanding points of contention. Regardless, mediators from Egypt and Qatar have communicated to Israeli officials that Hamas might now be in a position to agree to a deal.
The death toll in Gaza is nearing 40,000 as a result of 10 months of combat. On Sunday, Israel instructed residents in parts of Khan Younis, a city in the south previously labelled as a humanitarian safe area, to evacuate, stating that militants have infiltrated the region. The Israeli authorities put out the names of 19 alleged militants whom they say died in an airstrike at a former schoolhouse in Gaza’s Tufah district, now a refuge for war victims. However, Gaza officials argue that the attack claimed nearly 100 lives, including both women and children.
The Israeli military has confirmed an attack on a mosque within school premises being used as a stronghold for militants, stating the precision of the munition means the casualties reported by Hamas could not have been caused by them. They further anticipate retaliation from Iran and Hizbullah in the coming days for the recent murders of two high-profile militants in Beirut and Tehran. Even though these responses are expected to be coordinated, they may not necessarily occur concurrently.
Hizbullah is expected to react against the murder of their major commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut while Iran is likely to separately retaliate against the killing of Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Israel also anticipates a potential mobilisation of Iranian proxy forces such as the Houthis in Yemen and Shia militias in Iraq, posing challenges for their defence systems.
Israel’s defence minister Yoav Gallant cautioned both Hizbullah and Iran on Sunday that any retaliation actions towards the Beirut and Tehran assassinations would not go unanswered by Israel. His strong words suggested that anyone inflicting harm on them would be dealt with using methods that hadn’t been used previously highlighting the significant capabilities of the IDF.
Furthermore, Gallant expressed hopes that both parties would make wise decisions to prevent escalation to the point where Israel would have to take actions that could potentially trigger wars on multiple fronts. Even though it’s a situation they wish to avoid, he stressed on Israel’s preparedness for such a scenario, acknowledging its possibility.