Will Iran attack Israel if high-stakes Gaza ceasefire talks fail tomorrow? All you need to know
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Loading... - Ariana Carde
- 14 Aug 2024
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The Middle East is on high alert as a new round of ceasefire talks to end Israel's war in Gaza is set to begin on Thursday, August 15. The mediators, including Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, are making a last-ditch effort to revive the stalled negotiations, but the region faces the possibility of an Iranian attack on Israel if the talks fail.
The high-stakes meeting will see the mediators table a plan to implement a ceasefire-hostage deal, which holds major significance for both Israel and Hamas. The international community fears that if the ceasefire talks fail, a bigger war in the Middle East may follow.
Iran's Plans for Retaliation
Iran has rejected calls from Britain, France, and Germany to refrain from launching an attack on Israel over the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas political leader, in Tehran last month. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanani, called the request "excessive" and "contrary to the principles and rules of international law."
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has also accused Western countries of being "irresponsible" in their silence on the "unprecedented inhumane crime" in Gaza and Israeli attacks elsewhere in the Middle East.
Will Iran Abandon Plans for Attack?
Reports suggest that Iran might abandon plans to launch an attack on Israel if a ceasefire deal is reached. However, Iran's mission to the United Nations has stated that its retaliation is "totally unrelated to the Gaza ceasefire."
What's Next?
Israel is sending its delegation to the talks, while Hamas has indicated that it is interested in cracking a deal. However, the militant group has stated that it will not participate in further negotiations and will only implement what has been agreed upon.
The European leaders have endorsed the latest push by the mediators to broker an agreement and end Israel's months-long onslaught in Gaza.
The Three-Phase Proposal
The ceasefire deal, proposed by US President Joe Biden in May, includes three phases:
- The first phase would last around six weeks and witness the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza, as well as the release of several hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
- The second phase would see the exchange for the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and would put a permanent end to the fighting.
- The third phase would see the commencement of a major reconstruction plan for Gaza.
The Fate of Gaza Hangs in the Balance
The outcome of the ceasefire talks will determine the fate of Gaza, which has been ravaged by over ten months of war, resulting in the loss of thousands of lives, destruction, and displacement of nearly the entire population. Will the latest round of talks bring an end to the violence and pave the way for a lasting peace in the region? Only time will tell.
