Some really interesting commentary from
the SEC of State Blinken over the weekend and also U.S.
the strongest criticism yet of Israel since October seven.
How are you reading those comments? Yes.
Hi. Good morning, Jomana.
I mean, just very quickly on what Blinken said about the the risk of
Israel inheriting an insurgency. I mean, almost like to his point
immediately, I mean, we had overnight clashes in northern Gaza.
I mean, this is an area that Israel declared that it was it was clear of
Hamas militants months ago. I mean, that's where it started its
invasion of Gaza more than seven months ago.
And just overnight, we had reports by the Associated Press of clashes in the
Jabalya refugee camp and also the neighborhood as a tune which is near
Gaza City. And I mean, that really is almost like
confirmation of what Blinken warned about.
Yes. And indeed, you know, in those comments,
he said Israel risks holding the bag on an enduring insurgency.
So very cautionary tone there. But let me just ask you about what is
actually happening and Rafa. Again, reports of the weekend that
another 100, 100,000 people left it by foot.
That brings the total tally to 300,000 at the expectation on the ground is that
this larger ground assault may still actually take place.
Yes. Jomana, I mean, we have a very
compelling story from from our colleague Faris Akram.
I mean, he is from Gaza, but he's reporting for us from from outside Gaza,
obviously talking to people there. And we have we have like this really
compelling account of how people are moving en masse from Rafah to this area
called on Morsi, which is on the coast near the town of Khan Younis.
And, you know, pharmacies report I mean, we
hear about people paying as much as $1,000 for a tent.
I mean, they're moving to an area where there are already almost half a million
people living in tents and in horrendous conditions.
I mean, no food, no water, no sanitation, you know, basically living
amid destruction because these areas where they're moving to have been
targeted by Israel, you know, in the past.
$1,000 for a tent. Wow.
Some. But of course, the background to all of
this is the ongoing discussions about a potential truce deal.
Again, we got some commentary from Turkish President Erdogan over the
weekend saying that U.S. and Europe aren't doing enough to
pressure Israel to agree to a cease fire.
Well, what is the latest there and what are we hearing as well from other Arab
states? Absolutely.
Good question, Jamal. I mean, we obviously, we were all
following very closely the talks in Cairo.
On the U.S. side, they were being led by the CIA
director, William Burns. And we have also a good story on the
terminal about his role in all of this. In fact, a lot of
officials that I've spoken to here in our in our region were very optimistic.
You know, that Burns was involved, someone like him with a lot of
experience and kind of operating, you know, quietly that we would we would see
results. But unfortunately, you know, he left and
then we had Israel, you know, a week ago commence its invasion of Rafah.
So, I mean, obviously, all eyes are going to be again, whether we, you know,
on whether we going to be able to renew those those talks in Cairo or elsewhere.
I mean, those talks in addition to the U.S., we had the Egyptians playing a key
role. And, you know, there were obviously the
Egyptians talking to Hamas directly. And then we had we had Qatar playing a
very important role. I mean, Egypt, which has been, you know,
playing a very important role in these talks, is now saying, you know, after
Israel's incursion into into Rafah, that it may join South Africa.
In its case, you know, at the International Court of Justice accusing
Israel of genocide. And also there are Egyptian officials
warning that Egypt stop peace treaty with with with Israel is actually in
peril.
