JERUSALEM/CAIRO:
In the most severe warning yet of yet another round of regional escalation, British Foreign Minister David Cameron stated during a visit to Israel on Wednesday that Israel had obviously decided to retaliate against Iran for missile and drone attacks.
Following decades of warfare by proxies, Iran launched its first direct strike on Israel on Saturday night, involving hundreds of missiles and drones. This has prompted world powers to work toward preventing a larger outbreak of conflict in the Middle East.
Iran launched the attacks in retaliation for what it believed to be an Israeli bombing on its Damascus embassy compound on April 1, which resulted in the deaths of two generals and numerous other Iranian personnel.
Diplomats are trying to find a solution to prevent an open conflict between Israel and Iran after more than six months of fighting between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is supported by Iran and has caused violent outbursts throughout the Middle East.
Israel and its partners shot down the majority of the Iranian drones and missiles that were launched on Saturday, resulting in minimal damage and no casualties. Yet Israel claims that in order to maintain the legitimacy of its deterrents, it must strike back. Iran said that although it views the issue as resolved for the time being, it will strike back if Israel does.
Early on in his visit to Jerusalem, Cameron told reporters, “It’s clear the Israelis are making a decision to act.” “We hope they do so in a way that does as little to escalate this as possible.”
New economic penalties against Iran are intended to assist Washington and other Western countries convince Israel to curtail the extent of its retaliation. Cameron stated that the UK wanted the Group of Seven major democracies, who are gathering in Italy this week, to impose coordinated sanctions on Iran.
“They need to be given a clear unequivocal message by the G7,” he stated.
At a meeting of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet, which also includes moderate rivals brought into the government as a unity gesture following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, Israel is anticipated to debate its reaction to Iran.
In a statement on Tuesday, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated that Washington expects its allies to follow suit as it plans to implement new sanctions targeting Iran’s drone and missile programs in the coming days.
Prior to this, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen declared that the US would continue to undermine Iran’s “malign and destabilizing activity” through sanctions and cooperation with partners.
Speaking in Brussels during an emergency video meeting of EU foreign ministers, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stated that several member states have requested the extension of sanctions against Iran.
According to Borrell, the proposal would broaden the scope of sanctions aimed at reducing the flow of Iranian drones to Russia to encompass missile delivery as well as shipments to Iranian proxies in the Middle East.
Put an end to the war! Put an end to the war!
Since Hamas fighters launched an onslaught on southern Israel that resulted in 1,200 deaths and the capture of 253 captives, according to Israeli accounts, Israel and factions associated with Iran in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq have also clashed.
Israel has initiated a huge air and ground war within Gaza; Palestinian physicians have reported that around 34,000 Palestinians have died as a result of Israel’s actions, and thousands more are thought to be dead but are still missing under the rubble.
Negotiators have not been able to agree on terms for a longer truce, much less an end to the war, with the exception of a brief ceasefire in November that resulted in the release of over half of the hostages.
Israel withdrew the majority of its forces from southern Gaza this month, the area that has seen the majority of the fiercest combat since the year’s beginning. One of the few places in Gaza which Israeli forces have not yet overrun is the Nusseirat camp, located north of Deir al-Balah, where much of the fighting has recently taken place.
In a video seen by Reuters, mourners and incensed family members of the al-Nouris cried out at a hospital morgue in Deir al-Balah over bodies in body bags, some of which were the size of young children. Authorities reported that an Israeli strike on the family home on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of eleven persons.
“Oh global populace, something is terribly wrong! Please be kind to us! Give up the war! Give up the war! Kids are passing away on the streets!” Inside the packed hospital, a man let out a scream.
After a 36-hour invasion, Israeli forces were said to have left Beit Hanoun in the northern section of Gaza, according to reports from Hamas media.
The high number of civilian deaths has alarmed Western nations, particularly the United States, which at first warmly supported Israel’s campaign against Hamas. As a result, they have demanded an early ceasefire.
While Hamas declares it would not free its hostages until a deal with Israel that includes a clear strategy to end the war is in place, Israel maintains it will not stop fighting until Hamas is destroyed.
The United States and Israel report that this month has seen a significant improvement in aid availability despite the impending threat of starvation. Food and medicine supplies, according to aid organizations, are still insufficient to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.
