The warfare between Israel and Hamas entered Day 5 and there was no signal of de-escalation but. The Israeli navy pounded Gaza with retaliatory airstrikes after Saturday’s shock assault by Hamas. The militant group has threatened to kill hostages taken from Israel and continued to focus on the Israeli cities of Ashkelon and Tel Aviv.
Since Saturday, greater than 1,000 individuals have died in Israel. The dying toll in Gaza has mounted to 900. Extra killings and destruction are anticipated in days to come back as each side refuse to relent.
However how and when will this raging battle finish? Can the worldwide group step in? We check out those that could play peacemaker – and even negotiate a ceasefire.
Don’t miss: Our coverage from Tel Aviv on the Israel-Hamas war
India
Amid the continued battle, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu dialled his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Tuesday. This was their first dialog because the Hamas assault.
PM Modi reportedly advised the Israeli chief that “people of India stand in solidarity with Israel in this difficult hour”. Appreciating Netanyahu “for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation”, Modi, in a put up on X later, mentioned, “India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”
I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his cellphone name and offering an replace on the continued state of affairs. Folks of India stand firmly with Israel on this tough hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its types and manifestations.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 10, 2023
Whereas the Ministry of Exterior Affairs has not issued an announcement on the battle, PM Modi had mentioned quickly after the assault that “India stands in solidarity with Israel”. Whereas he didn’t title Hamas, mentioned he was “shocked by the news of the terrorist attack in Israel”.
India has to stroll to diplomatic tightrope. Whereas the nation has up to now backed Palestine, PM Modi has developed a friendship with Israel in his 9 years in energy.
However can the Indian chief try to barter between the 2 warring sides? Amid talks of India’s position within the matter, the previous head of Israel’s navy intelligence advised NDTV that Tel Aviv would welcome a “Modi miracle”. “Hamas is not willing to do any negotiation… any peace. Hamas is a terror organisation (like ISIS)… they are killing women, children in a very cold way. If Modi can make this miracle (happen)…” Main Basic Amos Yadlin (retd), mentioned.
Palestine Ambassador to India Abu Alhaija advised NDTV that India was a good friend to each Israel and Palestine and should step in to resolve the disaster in Gaza.
The ambassador is an appointee of the Palestine Authority authorities led by President Mahmoud Abbas. It governs the West Financial institution space of Palestine whereas the Gaza Strip is beneath the management of Hamas.
“Our president is in touch with several European countries to help negotiate,” Alhaija advised NDTV, including, “India is a friend to both. We want India to intervene and help us negotiate.”
China
China’s response to the Hamas assault was pretty muted. Stopping in need of condemning the Palestinian militant group, a Chinese language international ministry spokesperson referred to as for de-escalation and for Israel and Palestine to pursue a “two-state solution” for an unbiased Palestine.
Nonetheless, Chinese language president Xi Jinping has been mum on the battle.
In March, China introduced a surprise deal restoring ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran this yr, signalling Beijing’s need to be a diplomatic heavyweight in West Asia. Again then Chinese language media hailed Beijing’s rising profile in a area lengthy dominated by Washington. Wang Yi, China’s high diplomat, mentioned the nation would proceed to play a constructive position in dealing with international “hotspot issues”, in line with a Reuters report.
However the ongoing battle threatens to show the bounds of that ambition.
“Actually it does poke a gap in the kind of propaganda … of China being this sort of large participant within the Center East, Invoice Figueroa, an knowledgeable on China-West Asia relations was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Nonetheless, China’s West Asia envoy has mentioned that Bejing was prepared to coordinate with Egypt to succeed in a right away ceasefire within the ongoing battle, stories South China Morning Put up.
Zhai Jun spoke to Osama Khedr, the assistant minister of the Palestine division in Egypt’s international ministry, in a cellphone name on Tuesday. “China is willing to maintain communication and coordination with Egypt, and to promote an immediate ceasefire and cessation of violence between the conflicting parties,” Zhai mentioned.
Egypt
Egypt has been a daily negotiator between Israel and Palestine, having brokered ceasefires throughout a number of conflicts over the previous 15 years. The most recent occasion was in May 2023 after the clashes between the militant group Islamic Jihad and Israel.
Egypt president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi mentioned that the continued battle in Gaza “is very serious,” warning of repercussions on the area’s “security and stability.” Sissi, whose authorities maintains ties with Israel and Hamas, mentioned that Cairo has intensified its efforts to succeed in a ceasefire within the ongoing warfare, in line with the state-run MENA information company.
“We are communicating with all international and regional parties in order to reach an immediate cessation of violence and achieve de-escalation,” he’s quoted as saying on Tuesday.
Israel-Palestine battle defined:
In graphics | A brief history of the Israel-Palestine conflict
Mohammed Deif: Hamas’ wheelchair-bound military chief who planned Israel attack
Is Israel preparing a ground invasion of Gaza?
Israel is battling 3 enemies: Is larger conflict in West Asia on horizon?
Did Iran help Hamas plan the deadly attack on Israel?
Mossad, Aman, Shin Bet: How Israel’s intelligence agencies failed to prevent Hamas attack
Hamas, Hezbollah & Intifada: A guide to understanding the glossary of Israel-Pa
Rockets, gliders and more: How Hamas compares to Israel in weapons stockpile
What is the Gaza Strip, which is at the centre of Israel-Palestine conflict?
How many Indians are stranded in Israel and how safe are they?
Qatar
The Gulf nation has additionally performed the position of mediator between Israel and Palestine.
A Reuters report on Monday mentioned that Qatari mediators held pressing calls to barter freedom for Israeli ladies and youngsters seized by Hamas in alternate for the discharge of 36 Palestinian ladies and youngsters from Israel’s prisons.
Qatar’s international ministry confirmed to Reuters its involvement in mediation talks with Hamas and Israeli officers, together with over a possible prisoner swap.
Nonetheless, an Israel official advised the information company that there are not any negotiations underway.
To this point, there are not any indicators of a breakthrough.
Turkey
After the assaults, Turkey mentioned it was prepared to play mediator. On Tuesday, it renewed its provide to mediate and soothe tensions between Israel and the Palestinians.
In separate cellphone calls, Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan mentioned its potential mediation efforts and steps to forestall rising the tensions within the battle with UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres Guterres and Russian president Vladimir Putin, in line with statements by the Turkish presidency.
In keeping with Professor Mahjoob Zweiri, director of the Gulf Research Heart at Qatar College, If peace talks are to begin Turkey and Qatar will each have an energetic position. “I’m assuming this because they both have communications with Hamas and Israel, and we have to look at who is capable of being able to talk to both sides,” he advised Al-Jazeera.
Russia
Russian president Vladimir Putin used the chance to hit out at the USA, saying the violence confirmed that Washington’s coverage in West Asia had failed.
Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, mentioned the Kremlin was in contact with each warring sides and would search to play a task in resolving the battle, however didn’t specify how. Peskov warned that the battle risked spilling over into different areas, stories Reuters.
United Nations
UN has been engaged on meditation efforts for weeks earlier than the newest flare-up. It has engaged in diplomacy to forestall new armed confrontations between Israel and Palestine, stories Al Jazeera.
UN West Asia peace envoy Tor Wennesland met Hamas officers in Gaza and posted on X, “The United Nations is talking to and working with all concerned to improve the lives of people in Gaza, particularly the most vulnerable.”
With inputs from companies