Is the Middle East's wildfire still being averted?
After the killing of Hamas' foreign chief in Tehran, Iran threatens a retaliatory strike against Israel. There's now new hope for de-escalation in the Middle East conflict. Weapons ceasefire talks are set to begin in Qatar. Before the talks, mediators appeal to all parties involved.
Before the potentially decisive round of talks to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza war between Israel and the Islamist Hamas, mediators issued a final appeal to all parties in the Middle East. "No party in the region should take steps that undermine efforts to reach a deal," the U.S. State Department said after a phone call between Secretary Antony Blinken and his Qatari counterpart Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. A breakthrough in today's talks in Qatar's capital Doha could prevent a retaliatory strike by Iran and its partners against Israel, and thus prevent the war from spreading far beyond the Gaza Strip.
"This will be an important day. We want to reach a ceasefire," said White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre on the eve of the talks. "We want this war to end. We want the hostages to return home, including American hostages. We want more humanitarian aid to flow into the Gaza Strip. And we believe this agreement is the way to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East." Israel and Hamas do not talk directly to each other, so the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt are acting as mediators.
The talks in Doha are seen as crucial to achieving a ceasefire and a swap of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails after more than ten months of war. Former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the day before about the agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages, Axios reported, citing two informed U.S. sources. The content of the call was not disclosed.
Air raid sirens sound again on Israel's northern border
Israeli media reported that officials from U.S. President Joe Biden's administration also spoke with several Israeli representatives, including Defense Minister Joav Galant, the night before. They emphasized the importance of reaching a deal, which could also prevent an escalation of the conflict with Iran and its allies. Since the killing of an important representative of the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon and Hamas' foreign chief in the Iranian capital Tehran about two weeks ago, an attack by Iran and its allies against Israel has been feared.
Meanwhile, the mutual shelling between Israel and Hezbollah continues along the border between the two countries. The Lebanese Health Ministry said three people were killed in Israeli attacks on areas near the border. The Israeli army said it had attacked military structures of the militia in southern Lebanon after attacks by Hezbollah. Two Hezbollah terrorists were "eliminated." Neither claim could be independently verified.
Even hours before the start of the Gaza talks, sirens wailed again in the north of Israel at the border with Lebanon, the Israeli army said in the night. Hezbollah said it acted in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza. Both are allies of Iran. U.S. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed by their national security team on developments in the Middle East.
While Israel's army has been on high alert for days, the United States, its ally, has significantly bolstered its military presence in the region. The U.S., like Israel, is considered an arch-enemy by Iran. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly spoke with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, thanking Egypt for its "decisive efforts" in brokering a Gaza agreement.
Hamas declines to participate in talks
Hamas has declined to participate in the new round of talks and plans to be briefed on the discussed points afterward. A Arab official told "The Times of Israel" that Hamas representatives would not have been in the same room as the Israeli delegation anyway. The format is "basically the same" as previous negotiating rounds, the official added. Reports suggest that CIA Director William Burns, Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Egypt's intelligence chief Abbas Kamel will be in Doha. Israel's delegation is expected to be led again by Mossad chief David Barnea and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the departure of the Israeli delegation to Doha and their mandate for the negotiations, his office announced without providing further details.
What the talks in Doha will yield is entirely uncertain. In recent months, hopes for a breakthrough have surfaced and faded several times. Lately, the talks have made little progress. Netanyahu denied accusations that he had set new conditions and blocked a deal. He, in turn, accused Hamas of raising new demands. Netanyahu aims to militarily dismantle Hamas in the Gaza Strip and ensure it cannot govern the coastal region, which has been blockaded by Israel for many years.
The U.S. State Department, following a phone call between Secretary Antony Blinken and Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, issued a final appeal before the talks, stating, "No party in the region should take steps that undermine efforts to reach a deal." The following talks in Doha are considered crucial to achieving a ceasefire and a hostage swap between Israel and Hamas.
