International diplomatic efforts to prevent the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East intensified on Friday, as the British and French foreign ministers made a joint visit to Israel. Ceasefire talks in Qatar entered their second day.
The new effort to reach a deal comes as the Palestinian death toll from the war has reached 40,000, according to Gaza health authorities, and concerns persist over a possible attack by Iran and Hezbollah on Israel in retaliation for the killings of senior leaders. of Hamas and Hezollahu.
“It is a dangerous moment for the Middle East,” said British Foreign Secretary David Lammy. “The risk that the situation will get out of control is increasing. Any Iranian attack would have devastating consequences for the region.”
Mr. Lammy and French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné are expected to hold a joint meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
“It is never too late for peace,” said Mr. Séjourné. “We must at all costs avoid a regional war, which would have dire consequences.”
International mediators believe the best hope for easing tensions would be an agreement between Israel and Hamas to stop fighting and secure the release of Israeli hostages.
The United States, Qatar and Egypt began a new round of talks on Thursday and held talks with the Israeli delegation in Qatar. Hamas, which did not directly participate in Thursday's talks, accuses Israel of adding new demands to an earlier proposal that had received US and international support and to which Hamas had agreed in principle. Israel, for its part, accuses Hamas of adding new demands.
White House Homeland Security spokesman John Kirby called the talks an important step. He said much work remains ahead given the complexity of the agreement and that negotiators are focusing efforts on how it will be implemented.
Diplomats hope a ceasefire deal would persuade Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah to back down from their bid to avenge the killing of a top Hezbollah commander in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut and senior Hamas political leaders in an explosion. in Tehran, for which Israel is widely held responsible.
