Gaza Ceasefire Unravels as Regional Pressure on Israel Grows

Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict

Eight Arab and Muslim countries have accused Israel of violating the Gaza ceasefire as Israeli strikes continue more than nine months after the U.S.-mediated “truce” took effect. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia jointly condemned Israeli attacks on civilians, healthcare facilities and other infrastructure. More than 1,200 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the October ceasefire, according to Gaza health authorities. Israeli forces have also returned to areas from which they had agreed to withdraw, and humanitarian aid is languishing below levels required under the deal. Israel says Hamas has also violated the ceasefire by rebuilding tunnels, recruiting fighters and rearming, and has refused to complete its withdrawal until Hamas disarms. With the first phase having failed, the second phase – which calls for Hamas to disarm and Israeli forces to withdraw from Gaza – appears impossible.

Hezbollah has publicly offered talks with Syria for the first time, complicating U.S. efforts to draw Damascus into the effort to disarm the group. Hezbollah has intimated that it would have no problem meeting with the Syrian government. This is a hedge against Trump’s attempts to get Syria to intervene against Hezbollah, which he suggested earlier this month. Syria has rejected military intervention, but of course supports Lebanese state control over weapons and would likely support…

This post appeared first on https://oilprice.com