In the context of monitoring the Israeli war on Gaza and its regional implications, Israeli and global newspapers highlighted the visit of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the region and the American attacks in the Middle East and their implications, in addition to shedding light on the reality of women in Gaza.
Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia yesterday, Monday, as the first stop of his fifth tour to the Middle East since the “Toufan Al-Aqsa” operation and the start of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip more than 4 months ago. His tour will continue until Thursday and will also include visits to Qatar, Egypt, Israel, and the West Bank.
An article in The Washington Post reported that Blinken’s message on his trip to the Middle East is complex. Despite targeting “militias in Syria and Iraq” (as described by the newspaper), Washington ultimately seeks to de-escalate against groups allied with Iran.
The report pointed out that US officials are aware of the relationship between the war in Gaza and attacks against American interests, which explains Blinken’s push for an accelerated deal between the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel, which may lead to a permanent ceasefire.
In The Independent, Bel Trew wrote that the attacks approved by US President Joe Biden in response to the killing of American soldiers risk escalating tensions in the Middle East, warning of the worst-case scenario and the potential for a widespread conflict in the region as long as the war in Gaza continues.
Harsh Reality
Meanwhile, Nisreen Malik published an article in The Guardian addressing the harsh conditions faced by women in Gaza, including the absence of healthcare, hunger, and displacement. The author referenced UN reports that documented tens of thousands of pregnant women who were forced to give birth without painkillers or anesthesia, amidst a lack of minimum cleanliness standards, questioning how the West could ignore their suffering.
Foreign Affairs published an article suggesting that Israel will not be able to decisively resolve the situation in Gaza to its satisfaction, raising the possibility of Gaza turning into a quagmire that would be difficult for the Israeli army to extricate itself from. The article indicated that Hamas can adapt to its new reality by relying on the tunnel network and using the destroyed infrastructure and debris to its advantage. It also suggested that Hamas, along with other resistance factions in Gaza, may begin deploying “suicide bombers” targeting Israeli soldiers.
Regarding the return of Hamas fighters in the northern and central regions of Gaza, Haaretz noted reports of renewed battles in Gaza City and areas in the north that the army had previously declared control over. The newspaper stated that it is an attempt by Hamas to affirm its presence and control, emphasizing that it is indeed causing damage to the army by intensifying its attacks in the form of gang warfare.
