The persistent peace talks in Doha have been unable to de-escalate tensions and establish a ceasefire in Palestine. Astonishingly, the ongoing Doha peace talks, led by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, do not include Hamas – the actual stakeholders in the current war in Gaza – and their emphasis on a truce based on the framework proposed by the US President Biden on 31st May 2024. The recent assassinations of the leaders of the two top organizations fighting against Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah, have intensified regional tensions. Since the killing of these leaders, the fears of a broader regional conflict have increased, forcing Iran to intervene. The Biden Administration and other global powers seek to prevent direct Iranian involvement in this war and facilitate peace efforts. However, the absence of Hamas in the ongoing Doha peace talks and the deep mistrust between Hamas and Israel pose significant challenges. The only pragmatic way to ensure regional peace and de-escalate the situation hinges on a genuine talk between all the parties involved in the conflict.
U.S. Roadmap and Peace Negotiations
Biden’s proposed roadmap was developed as a result of collaboration between Israel and the United States. Under this proposed scheme, the Biden administration proposed three phases of the ceasefire. This plan calls for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from urban areas of Gaza over 6 weeks, meanwhile, both sides would release additional hostages during the first phase. The second phase demands the release of all Israeli hostages by Hamas and the complete withdrawal of the occupant forces from Gaza. The final phase of the proposed roadmap involves the reconstruction of Gaza, including all the buildings destroyed during the Israeli occupation, along with providing additional aid to the civilians affected during this conflict.
The Biden Administration holds that the threat of Iran’s involvement in the conflict could be prevented by the successful implementation of this plan. The actual ambition of the current talks is that a temporary peace in the persistent Israel-Hamas war will establish the foundation for future peace efforts. However, the regional dynamics and mistrust between the conflict parties have overshadowed this optimism.
Escalating Tensions and Regional Impact
Recent killings of the leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas have further intricated the situation. They have jeopardized the peace in the Middle Eastern region. Hamas’s Political Bureau chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed allegedly in a covert Israeli operation in the Iranian capital – Tehran on 31st July. Faud Shukur, a senior Hezbollah commander, was also assassinated on the same day in Lebanon. Israel has been accused by leaders of Iran and Hamas of both assassinations. However, Israel has only accepted the accusation of killing Shukur. These incidents have escalated tensions in the Middle East, raising the threat of a broader regional war.
Iran and Hezbollah have pledged to revenge these killings. This has increased the chances of a potential large-scale war in the region against Israel. The United States and its European allies’ support of Israel predates the persistent Israel-Hamas war. They have been providing military and financial aid to Israel for decades. Israel has been the single largest recipient of US aid since the creation of the former. This aid continued and even increased in some instances during the ongoing Israeli war crimes in Gaza. Numerous hospitals, schools, and houses have been reduced to rubble by the Israeli war criminals. The United States and its other European allies have also issued a joint statement against Iran in response to the latter’s pledge to revenge Ismail Haniyeh.
The Need for Inclusive Dialogue and Long-Term Solutions
The United States is acting in a Janus-faced manner by providing aid and protection to Israel’s war crimes while simultaneously brokering a ceasefire. The recent Doha talks, without the inclusion of Hamas, demonstrate the insincerity of the United States. Any peace talks should not involve all the key stakeholders. On the other hand, the deep mistrust between Israel and Hamas renders all negotiations futile. Therefore, there is a need to engage with Hamas as well. Moreover, the United States has significant diplomatic and military leverage over Israel. The former can use this leverage to pressure Israel to abide by the terms and conditions of the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, regional powers, like Turkey and Iran, could also use their influence over Hamas to establish peace in the region. However, Israel’s repeated violations of international law and Iranian territorial integrity have further exacerbated the situation. Iran’s involvement in the peace talks and its engagement with Hamas and Hezbollah are the only possible way to establish long-term peace in the Middle Eastern region. Moreover, the Palestinian’s demand for the right to self-determination lies at the core of the conflict. Any peace deal without addressing the root causes of the issue will not ensure long-term peace between the two sides.
The persistent war crimes of the Israeli forces have not only rejuvenated global support for the Palestine cause but have also proved detrimental to the United States’ regional and global interests. It has once again unmasked the reality of the United States’ support for human rights and liberal values. The Doha talks can only be successful if all the parties are willing to de-escalate the situation. Moreover, mere diplomatic efforts are insufficient for establishing a long-term regional peace, commitment of all the regional and global powers to justice is also required for this.
Abbas Hashemite – is a political observer and research analyst for regional and global geopolitical issues. He is currently working as an independent researcher and journalist, exclusively for “New Eastern Outlook”
