Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister, is set to embark on a two-day trip to the wider region, including Israel, in an effort to address the escalating conflict with Hamas. On Thursday morning, Sunak will hold meetings with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog. Following his visit to Israel, Sunak will travel to several other regional capitals to engage in diplomatic discussions aimed at preventing further escalation of the conflict.
In a positive development, US President Joe Biden announced that Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah el Sisi has agreed to open the Rafah border crossing to allow approximately 20 trucks carrying much-needed humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. Biden commended Sisi for his decision, emphasising the importance of accommodating those in need. White House officials confirmed that the aid will begin flowing as early as Friday, pending necessary road repairs. Humanitarian workers in Gaza have been sounding the alarm about the dire situation, with dwindling supplies of food, water, and energy.
Israel, responding to a demand from President Biden, has also pledged not to block the entry of water, food, and medicine into Gaza from Egypt. The US and Egypt have affirmed their commitment to working closely together to address the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza and maintain stability in the Middle East.
Additionally, President Biden is scheduled to deliver an address on Thursday, addressing both the Israel-Hamas conflict and the ongoing Ukraine war. This highlights the significance of these global issues and the commitment of the US to finding peaceful resolutions.
However, tensions continue to rise as Hezbollah, based in Lebanon, has issued a warning to its adversaries, asserting that it is “thousands of times stronger” than before. The group has engaged in clashes with Israeli forces at the border, fuelled by the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel. The US has cautioned Iran, a supporter of Hezbollah and Hamas, against getting involved in the crisis. In response to the escalating situation, the US has deployed two aircraft carriers to deter any state or non-state actors from further escalating the conflict.
Amidst this volatile situation, Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine addressed a large crowd of supporters, cautioning US President Joe Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and what he referred to as “malicious Europeans” to exercise caution. Safieddine warned that any mistakes made against their resistance would be met with a resounding response. Notably, Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in frequent exchanges of fire since Hamas initiated the attack on Israel in October. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for multiple attacks, including strikes on an Israeli barracks and a position near the Lebanese border.
