Israel plans to send a negotiation team to Qatar to discuss hostages and a ceasefire amidst threats to cut electricity supplies to Gaza. The IDF has appointed a new official spokesperson, and the situation continues to escalate alongside international responses, including concerning U.S. immigration. The UN has condemned civilian casualties in Syria, and Iran shows tentative willingness for U.S. negotiations on nuclear issues.
An Israeli negotiation team is set to depart for Qatar on Monday to engage in delicate discussions regarding the release of hostages held in Gaza and a prospective ceasefire with Hamas. The delegation, according to Israeli reports, will feature Gal Hirsch, the government coordinator for hostages, along with Ophir Falk, a senior advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Additionally, Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy for the Middle East, is expected to arrive in Doha later this week, potentially on Wednesday.
Over the weekend, Israel proposed to terminate any remaining electricity supplies to Gaza. Eli Cohen, Israel’s energy minister, asserted in a video that the government would employ “all means available … to ensure the return of all Israeli hostages” and uttered intentions that Hamas would not persist in Gaza following the conflict. In response, Hamas criticized Israel’s actions as “cheap and unacceptable blackmail.”
In a parallel development, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the appointment of BG Effie Defrin as the new official spokesperson, succeeding Rr Adm Daniel Hagari. The transition was described as “orderly and professional.” The appointment of Defrin received approval from the new chief of general staff, Eyal Zamir, and Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz.
Amidst these ongoing tensions, the UN has denounced distressing allegations of families being decimated in north-west Syria, marking the highest death toll in the region since the uprising in 2011. Furthermore, U.S. immigration officials arrested Palestinian graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, known for his active participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated intentions to revoke the visas of individuals supporting Hamas within the United States to facilitate deportations. Iran has also conveyed potential openness to negotiations with the U.S. if discussions are focused solely on concerns regarding the militarization of its nuclear program.
In summary, Israel’s diplomatic efforts towards a ceasefire and hostage negotiations are underway as a delegation heads to Qatar amidst escalating tensions. The threat to cut electricity to Gaza reflects Israel’s intensified stance, leading to critiques from Hamas. Concurrently, changes in IDF leadership and developments in U.S. immigration regarding pro-Palestinian activities highlight the complex and evolving landscape of the Middle Eastern crisis.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
