The situation in Gaza has escalated further as Israel reported the killing of dozens of militants in the Gaza Strip on Monday, February 6, 2024. This development coincides with the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has returned to the Middle East to achieve a new ceasefire.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that their operations in the past 24 hours included airstrikes and ground battles in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, as well as raids in northern and central Gaza. The Gaza health ministry, under Hamas control, reported that at least 128 people, mostly women and children, were killed in Israeli strikes overnight into Monday.
The United Nations noted that intense fighting in the Khan Younis area is pushing civilians farther south toward Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s population has already taken refuge, many in makeshift shelters. Currently, an estimated 75% of Gaza’s people have fled their homes, facing acute shortages of food, water, shelter, and medicine, according to the United Nations.
Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Release
A proposed temporary ceasefire could potentially bring an increase in humanitarian aid for Gaza, along with the release of hostages held by Hamas militants. Hamas leaders have been considering the proposal for a week after talks among Egyptian, Qatari, and U.S. mediators.
“The ball right now is in Hamas’ court,” said a senior U.S. State Department official, emphasizing that while Egypt and Qatar have pushed for Hamas to accept the “strong, compelling proposal,” the decision ultimately lies with Hamas. Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday as part of his trip, which includes stops in Egypt, Qatar, Israel, and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
During his visit to Riyadh, Blinken held talks with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. According to a State Department statement, they discussed regional coordination to achieve an enduring end to the crisis in Gaza, emphasizing the importance of building a more integrated and prosperous region.
During Blinken’s Middle East meetings, sensitive negotiations are expected, focusing on securing a humanitarian pause in Gaza. This pause is crucial for addressing issues such as reconstruction, Palestinian Authority reform, governance in Gaza, pursuing a two-state solution, and facilitating normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Review of UNRWA and Diplomatic Developments
On Monday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced that former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna would lead an independent review of the United Nations’ Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA. This decision follows accusations by Israel that some UNRWA staff participated in the October 7 attack in southern Israel by Hamas militants.
Several countries have suspended funding for the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency in response to the allegations. The U.S. is pushing for an immediate and serious investigation into the UNRWA allegations. It aims to see concrete results while consulting with other donors on meeting urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza.
The Gaza Strip, described as a “pressure cooker of despair” by the United Nations, is overflowing with Palestinian refugees displaced due to Israel’s military operation against Hamas. Diplomatic efforts to reach a new ceasefire agreement in Gaza have intensified due to a surge of new attacks in the Middle East. The proposed Gaza truce would pause fighting for an initial six weeks, leading to the release of hostages by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, which governs Gaza, following the militant group’s attack on Israel in October, resulting in approximately 1,200 casualties, mostly civilians. Hamas also took about 240 people hostage, with around 28 believed to have died or been killed.
As the diplomatic push for a new ceasefire continues, the situation remains complex, with challenges ranging from humanitarian concerns to broader regional dynamics. Antony Blinken’s ongoing meetings in the Middle East will be crucial in navigating these complexities and working towards a sustainable resolution to the Gaza crisis.
