Qatar, as a central mediator, has warned in force after Israeli airstrikes killed over 400 Palestinians. The Gulf state warned that the mounting violence could set off a broader regional conflict unless checked right away.
The air strikes, Israeli officials said, came after Hamas turned down a suggestion to extend the temporary ceasefire between the two parties. Israel justified the military strike, saying that it had “no alternative” but to resume action after indirect talks failed.
Qatar, which has been a key player in past ceasefire negotiations, denounced the increasing number of civilian casualties and urged the international community to intervene immediately to stop the bloodshed. “The situation is unstable, and further aggression could set the whole region ablaze,” a Qatari foreign ministry statement said.
International players, including the United Nations and some Western powers, have increasingly voiced alarm at the humanitarian crisis. Diplomatic action is now gearing up behind the scenes to rekindle dormant negotiations and ease tensions on the ground.
