US Seeks to “Turn Temperature Down” in Middle East
0
0
US Seeks to “Turn Temperature Down” in Middle East
The United States has expressed its commitment to reducing tensions in the Middle East, as fears of an Iranian retaliatory attack on Israel continue to grow.
Speaking at the UN Security Council meeting in New York, US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, stated that the US aims “to turn the temperature down” in the region.
This comes as international mediators push for a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which could help deter Iran from launching an attack on Israel.
READ ALSO: FRSC Condemns Fatal Crashes on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
US President Joe Biden has suggested that reaching a ceasefire deal could help ease tensions, saying “that’s my expectation, but we’ll see.”
However, Hamas official Ahmad Abdul Hadi has reportedly said that Hamas will not participate in the ceasefire talks, casting doubts on the prospects of a deal.
The US has also approved a $20bn arms sale to Israel, which is expected to take years to materialize.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, has accused the Security Council of not doing enough to stop Israel’s military operation in Gaza, while Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan claimed that Hamas uses civilians as human targets.
The conflict has resulted in significant loss of life, with over 39,920 people killed in Gaza since the start of the conflict, according to the territory’s health ministry.
International diplomacy efforts continue, with Iran dismissing calls to refrain from retaliation against Israel and Israel putting its military on high alert.
