Qatar has pledged to collaborate with the Biden administration up until the last moment before the upcoming presidential election to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, according to a statement from the Qatari foreign ministry.
Majed Al-Ansari, a spokesperson for the ministry, expressed optimism about the mediation process, stating, “We don’t foresee any negative result of the elections on the mediation process itself. We believe that we are dealing with institutions, and in a country like the United States, the institutions are invested in finding a resolution to this crisis.”
Tragically, the situation remains dire in the region, with reports indicating that at least 55 Palestinians were killed and many more injured following an Israeli strike on a residential building in Beit Lahiya, a town in northern Gaza.
In related developments, Israeli lawmakers have enacted two laws that could hinder the operations of the UN Palestinian refugee agency, UNWRA. These laws could restrict its activities on Israeli soil, cut ties with the organization, and revoke the legal immunities of its staff members.
The Lebanese health ministry reported that Israeli attacks since October 2023 have resulted in at least 2,710 fatalities and 12,592 injuries in Lebanon. Meanwhile, the Gaza health ministry stated that the ongoing conflict, which erupted on October 7, 2023, has led to over 43,061 Palestinian deaths and 101,223 injuries.
In a separate effort, Saudi Arabia has announced its readiness to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. The Saudi ambassador to Moscow indicated that the kingdom is supportive of de-escalation efforts in the Ukraine crisis and is prepared to facilitate communication between all involved parties. Despite several initiatives from external actors, including China and African leaders, no peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have taken place since the early weeks of the conflict in 2022.
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