In recent days, the strong Syrian news has somewhat taken precedence over that linked to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The announcement this weekend of a resumption of negotiations between the two parties in Doha, Qatar, timidly revives the hope of progress in this war triggered fifteen months ago by the Hamas terrorist attack on Israeli soil. It is in this context that, on Saturday, the Palestinian Islamist group broadcast a video of an Israeli hostage kidnapped on October 7, 2023, calling on the government of her country to do everything to free her.
Hamas still holds 96 hostages. The question of their release versus that of Palestinian prisoners, but also the end of the fighting in the Gaza Strip, is at the heart of the discussions currently taking place in Doha. No truce has been concluded since November 2023, despite diplomatic actions by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, under whose auspices the talks are being held. The hope of an agreement is particularly slim and, on the ground, the fighting is increasing in intensity. More than 88 Palestinians were killed over the weekend in the Gaza Strip according to the Hamas health ministry, in response to rocket attacks on Israel.
A compromise is all the more desirable in light of the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20. The return to power of the man who decided in 2018 for the United States to withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement is bad news for regional stability in the Middle East. Unconditional support from Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he considers to be his best ally against Iran, Donald Trump has also always been against the two-state solution, although it is the only possible option for lasting peace.
Swiss
