By Athena Papakosta

The pawns for the military lot have been lined up. But the same thing happens with the pawns on the diplomatic chessboard.

While the Israeli armed forces forces are waiting with their finger on the trigger for the political green light to start the ground operation in the Gaza Strip, the US Secretary of StateAnthony Blinken, returns to Israel after five days and following a six-stop tour of Arab countries to continue consultations with the Israeli leadership.

The entire planet is holding its breath for the new bloodiest phase of the ongoing war in the blood-soaked Middle East as the fear of a generalized conflict remains with Iran’s role at the center.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian clarified on Sunday that Tehran will not remain an observer underlining that Iran has informed Israel, through its allies, that “if the crimes
continue in Gaza, tomorrow will be too late.” He also warned Washington that if the war extends to the Middle East, the United States will suffer heavy losses.”

Amir-Amdolakhian’s statements come at a time when the military escalation on the border between Israel and Lebanon is escalating, as a result of which the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping force in the south of the Land of Cedars was hit by a rocket while, at midnight, the Israeli army made it known that it strikes Hezbollah checkpoints.

Israeli military spokesman Adm. Daniel Hagari said that Israel is prepared to fight on two or more fronts by adding thewhat Tehran-backed Hezbollah is escalating border tension to thwart Israel’s attack on Gaza.

On Sunday afternoon, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi spoke by phone with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, making it clear that “if the siege of Gaza does not end, the conflict may expand.”

Already the National Security Adviser in the White House, Jake Sullivan, speaking on the American television network CBS, had underlined that “United States cannot rule out “Iran deciding to get involved one way or another” with Iran’s UN mission stressing that “Iranian armed forces will not engage in war provided Israel does not attack Iran, its interests and its citizens.”

Since Saturday, Washington has announced the deployment of a second aircraft carrier, the USS Eisenhower, and its strike force to the eastern Mediterranean in order to “prevent hostile actions against Israel” and “any attempt to spread the war after the attack by Hamas.” .

And now, with Blinken at the helm, he is also working to open the Rafah crossing so that precious humanitarian aid can flow into Gaza and those with foreign passports can leave.

As the conflict in the Middle East continues into its 10th day the head of the UN humanitarian aid program underlines that “the shadow of death” looms over the besieged Gaza since “without water, without electricity, without food and without medicine, thousands will die”.

Four hospitals in the northern part are now out of service while, a total of 21 hospitals have received an evacuation order with the World Health Organization to underline that “forced evacuation may amount to a violation of international humanitarian law”.

So far, 600,000 civilians have moved into southern Gaza and voices to Israel that it can defend itself but according to International and Humanitarian Law are getting louder.