Desperate talks are under way to stop all-out war in the Middle East after negotiations to end Israel ’s onslaught in Gaza failed.
Analysts fear Iran could attack in as little as two days in retaliation for Israel killing a Hamas chief in Tehran. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will make a last-ditch peace bid in a meeting with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. A fresh push for an end to the Gaza war launched this week in Qatar as the death toll there topped 40,000.
Fears are sky-high that Iran – along with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon – will attack Israel amid the mounting human cost. The escalation follows last month’s suspected Mossad blast which killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. An attack hours earlier killed Hezbollah senior man Fuad Shukr.
US security spokesman John Kirby said Iran has made preparations to attack with little to no warning. He said earlier this week: “We share the same concerns and expectations that our Israeli counterparts have with respect to potential timing here, could be this week.”
Mediators hope a deal involving the release of Israeli hostages, a prisoner swap and ceasefire will ease tensions. On Thursday, the US, Qatar and Egypt began a new round of ceasefire talks. Hamas, which did not participate directly, accuses Israel of adding new demands to a previous US-supported proposal.
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