2024-01-07 20:05:01
According to Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, a new deal is now becoming more difficult. The news portal Axios reported this on Sunday night, citing an unnamed Israeli source and a Qatari official. The statements were made during a meeting between Al Thani and relatives of Israeli hostages in Doha.
Qatar and Egypt had recently worked to restart talks between Israel and Hamas about the release of more hostages. The terrorist organization kidnapped around 240 people into the Gaza Strip in its bloody attack on October 7th. 105 hostages have since been released in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. The Israeli army estimates that around 135 people are currently being held in the Gaza Strip.
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Situation tense after Hezbollah attack
Hamas leader Aruri was killed in an explosion in the Lebanese capital Beirut last Tuesday. The Hezbollah militia in Lebanon, which is allied with Hamas, suspects Israel is behind the action. After the death, there were concerns about further escalation in the Middle East conflict. This was reinforced on Sunday with a large-scale rocket attack on Israel, which Hezbollah described as an “initial response” to the killing of Aruri.
Continuing concern about the conflict expanding
In addition to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, US Secretary of State Blinken is also on a mediation tour in the region to talk to several countries in the region about de-escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. On Sunday, Blinken first met Jordan’s King Abdullah II. During the day he then traveled to Qatar, where he met both Prime Minister Al Thani and the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
After his conversation with Prime Minister Al Thani, Blinken warned that “the conflict could quickly metastasize,” “causing even more suffering in the region.” He and his interlocutors all agreed that the conflict should not expand any further.
Prime Minister Al Thani also warned of a “dangerous expansion of the conflict.” And he also condemned the killing of a Hamas leader in Beirut and a senior Iranian general in Syria. The two killings – presumably ordered by Israel – should be condemned and a violation of the sovereignty of these countries, said the Prime Minister.
Appeal to Israel for better protection of civilians
Blinken also urged that Israel must better protect civilians in Gaza during its attacks there. “It is painful that we have reached a stage where we are unfortunately used to images of death and destruction in Gaza,” Al Thani said. The war continues despite efforts at international and regional levels. In the coming days, Blinken wants to visit the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank and Egypt.
debate
Middle East: What will the future of the region look like?
Germany’s Foreign Minister Baerbock is traveling to the region for the fourth time since the outbreak of the Gaza war. The first stop on Sunday was Jerusalem – in the coming days the program includes, among other things, the Palestinian West Bank, Egypt and a visit to Lebanon.
Baerbock was also concerned that the danger of a regional conflagration has not yet been averted – especially because of the aggressive behavior of two anti-Israel militias in Lebanon and Yemen that are allied with Iran: “The situation in the Middle East is extremely dangerous with missiles from two other directions : those of Hezbollah and those of the Houthis.” This threat makes a diplomatic solution all the more urgent.
Hope for “foundation stone for peace”
Baerbock also called on Israel to show more consideration for the civilian population living in the Gaza Strip and also in the West Bank. Baerbock once again advocated resolving the decades-long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians through a two-state solution – i.e. through the establishment of a separate Palestinian state alongside Israel. “The region must get out of the eternal cycle of violence,” said Baerbock, who added: “It is the moment to finally lay the foundation for sustainable peace and security.”
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Dead after battle in the West Bank
Sustained attacks
There were no signs of easing in the conflict area three months after the radical Islamic Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th – on the contrary: Israel continued its attacks on the Gaza Strip, and Hamas also spoke of attacks in the south on the cities of Khan Yunis and Rafah. The Shiite militia Hezbollah in Lebanon, which is allied with Hamas, launched a massive attack on northern Israel on Saturday.
ORF analysis: Current situation in the Gaza war
ORF correspondent Tim Cupal reports from Tel Aviv in Israel. He reports how close Israel has come to its goal of destroying Hamas, three months after the start of the war.
Netanyahu points to war goals
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recalled on Sunday the war goals set by Israel in the military operation in the Gaza Strip. In addition to eliminating Hamas, these include the return of all hostages and ensuring that the Gaza Strip no longer poses a threat to Israel.
“The war must not end before we have achieved our goals,” Netanyahu said on Sunday at the start of his cabinet’s weekly meeting. “I say this to both our enemies and our friends,” he added.
Netanyahu and his war cabinet are ultimately pushing for a quick solution to the tense situation on the northern border. According to their own statements, they prefer a diplomatic agreement, but otherwise threaten a military option. According to the Washington Post, a warning about such a “significant escalation” comes from the USA. According to the report, there is concern among U.S. government officials that an escalation between the Mediterranean neighbors could be even bloodier than the last war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.
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