War in the Middle East: Hope for new movement in dialogue about ceasefire in Gaza

After the killing of Hamas leader Jihia al-Sinwar in the Gaza Strip, negotiators in the region are hoping for impetus for ceasefire negotiations. The head of the Israeli foreign secret service Mossad, David Barnea, is traveling to the Gulf state of Qatar on Sunday to hold talks about the release of hostages held by Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the meeting with CIA chief William Burns and Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani was intended to discuss ways to restart negotiations “in light of recent developments.”

Meanwhile, the state-affiliated Egyptian television channel Al-Kahira News reported that high-ranking delegations from Hamas and Egypt had met for talks in Cairo. The current situation in Gaza was discussed and how current obstacles to a ceasefire in the sealed-off coastal areas could be overcome. According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the negotiators between Israel and Hamas – i.e. the USA, Qatar and Egypt – will meet again in the coming days. Sinwar’s death “perhaps creates an opportunity to actually move forward and reach an agreement,” Blinken said.

There has been no progress in the talks for months. Israel hoped this could change after Sinwar’s killing. For the time being, Hamas is sticking to its previous positions, including the demand for a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip and an end to the war.

Reports of numerous victims in new attack in northern Gaza

According to Palestinian information, there were again numerous casualties in Israeli attacks in the north of the Gaza Strip. According to the local civil defense, many people were killed and injured in bombardments of houses in the refugee district of Jabaliya. It was difficult to obtain more precise information because access to the area cordoned off by the military is extremely restricted. An Israeli army spokesman said that, according to initial investigations, the military was not aware of such an incident. The casualty figures cited by sources close to the terrorist organization Hamas are false and do not correspond to information from the military.

Lebanon reports more casualties after Israeli attacks

According to authorities, there were again numerous victims of Israeli attacks in Lebanon. At least twelve people were killed and 53 injured in the north-east of the country, the Lebanese Ministry of Health announced. Three minors were among the fatalities. Two people were killed and five others injured in another attack on Majdel Sun in the south of the country near the Israeli border. Two more people were killed in an attack on a car in Kahale, east of the capital Beirut. Two other people were also wounded.

Five Israeli soldiers killed in fighting in Lebanon

Five Israeli soldiers were killed in fighting in southern Lebanon, according to the military. In one incident, four reservists between the ages of 22 and 42 were killed, the Israeli army said in a statement. Israeli media reported that the four men entered a southern Lebanese village on Wednesday and were surprised by Hezbollah militia fighters. The pro-Iranian fighters came out of a shaft and threw hand grenades at the troops. In another incident, the 23-year-old commander of a dog unit was killed.

Israel’s chief of staff: Hezbollah’s chain of command destroyed

More than three weeks after the start of the ground offensive in Lebanon, the Israeli armed forces say they have already significantly weakened the Shiite militia Hezbollah. “We have thoroughly broken Hezbollah’s chain of command,” said Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi at a briefing, according to the military. There is now a possibility that the fighting could end.

Media: Iran prepares for Israeli retaliation

In view of a planned Israeli retaliatory strike, the Iranian military is already working out several possible response scenarios, according to a media report. If the Israeli armed forces launch a massive attack on Iran and, for example, target the country’s oil and nuclear facilities, the reaction will be violent, the US newspaper “The New York Times” reported, citing four Iranian officials, including two members of the Revolutionary Guards. In such an event, Iran could fire up to 1,000 ballistic missiles at Israel, expanding attacks by allied militias in the region and disrupting shipping traffic in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. However, if Israel only carried out limited attacks on a few military facilities and weapons depots, Iran might refrain from responding.