Conflict | Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate continue

The death continues in the Gaza war between Israel and the Islamist Hamas, and there is no new ceasefire in sight. Efforts to ease tensions on the diplomatic stage continue.

While Israel’s army has expanded its ground operations throughout the Gaza Strip, diplomatic efforts to defuse the conflict continue.

US Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas about the situation in Gaza on her return flight from the climate conference in Dubai, the White House announced. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also spoke with the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, about “ongoing efforts to facilitate the safe return of all remaining hostages and to increase assistance to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.”

USA for two-state solution

Harris reiterated US support for Israel’s right to self-defense. She also expressed concern about steps that could lead to an escalation of tensions, such as violence by extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank. She reiterated how important it is to plan for the day after the fighting in Gaza ends, they said.

The USA advocated a two-state solution. She also told Abbas that. Harris assured Abbas of US support “for the Palestinian people and their right to security, dignity and self-determination.” The Palestinian people need a “clear political perspective,” the White House said.

Air strikes and ground offensive

The war was triggered by the worst massacre in Israel’s history, carried out by terrorists from Hamas and other extremist groups on October 7th in Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip. On the Israeli side, more than 1,200 people were killed and around 240 hostages were taken to Gaza.

Israel responded with massive air strikes, a blockade of the coastal area and began a ground offensive in late October. Israel has now extended this to the south, where hundreds of thousands of civilians seeking protection had fled at Israel’s request. According to the Hamas health authority, more than 15,500 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip so far. This cannot currently be verified.