Gazze conflict: The approach of the United States and Iran critical in Israel’s operation

In an article about the issue Zeynep GURCANLI (one of Turkey’s prominent journalists) discusses the critical importance of the approaches of the United States and Iran in Israel’s ongoing operation against Hamas and its supporters. This post is a summary of the article, translated into English.

In the article the journalist notes that the initial indications from Washington suggest that the U.S. is taking a cautious approach for now. The U.S. Central Command has announced the deployment of American ships led by the aircraft carrier Gerald Ford to the Eastern Mediterranean following Hamas’ initial attack and Israel’s accusatory stance towards Iran. This move is seen as an attempt by the U.S. to prevent Lebanon, which acts as a buffer between Israel and Iran, from getting involved in the conflict.

USA AND IRAN HAVE TAKEN A CAUTIOUS APPROACH UNTIL NOW

Iran seems to have taken notice of the U.S.’s indirect approach and has officially stated that they have not interfered with Hamas’s operations against Israel. However, this stance could change rapidly, given the volatile nature of the Middle East.

TURKEY WILLING TO PLAY ACTIVE ROLE IN DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS BETWEEN 2 PARTIES

The issue of hostages taken by Hamas during the conflict is of concern. It is expected that diplomatic efforts will be initiated urgently to address this issue, and Turkey is showing signs of playing an active role in such diplomatic efforts.

U.S. Secretary of State Blinken’s social media message indicates that Washington expects Ankara to get involved in resolving the hostage situation. Blinken’s message specifically mentioned his conversation with Hakan Fidan, the head of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization, emphasizing the need for Turkey to use all available channels to secure the release of hostages.

IS ISRAEL HESITATING TO LAUNCH GROUD OPERATION?

There are reports suggesting that Israel’s hesitation to launch a ground operation in Gaza is partly due to its connection to Ukraine. It is reported that Israel has sent 80% of its artillery shells to Ukraine, making it difficult for them to take military action in the short term.

Additionally, there are reports of Russian-based hacker groups targeting Israel’s energy and transportation infrastructure. The linkage between the Israel-Palestine conflict and the Ukraine war is a concerning development, as it increases the risk of the conflict spreading.

TURKEY’S ROLE SHOULD BE TO CONTINUE ITS BALANCED DIPLOMACY

In this challenging environment, Turkey’s role is to continue its balanced diplomacy, which it has pursued during both the Ukraine war and the Hamas attacks. While the role of “hostage rescue diplomacy” assigned to Turkey is difficult, it can be effective and honorable if carried out with prudence and restraint.

Summarized and translated from original article by Zeynep GURCANLI on below link
https://www.diken.com.tr/zeynep-gurcanli-israilin-operasyonunda-abd-ve-iranin-yaklasimi-kritik-onemde/