By all means and in every way the world community is trying to prevent the escalation to Middle Eastern and in Israel’s conflict with Hamas -primarily- and Hezbollah -secondarily-, a few hours before the start of the major ground operation of the Israeli army in the Gaza area.

The US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, has been in a plane continuously for the last 24 hours and is visiting the Arab countries one by one, in order to reach a compromise solution, which will provide a solution – even if temporary – to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, after the invasion of the Palestinian armed forces organization. Blinken has been in contact with Arab governments, asking for their influence on Hamas to free the hostages and find a solution with Israel.

The head of US diplomacy returned on Monday to Israel, where he had a new partnership with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to information, the American Foreign Minister also participated in Israel’s war council, a few hours before the crucial decision on the ground attack on Gaza.

Putin claims the role of mediator

At the same time, the role of mediator is claimed by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, who had contact with Benjamin Netanyahuas well as other leaders of the Arab states.

Putin briefed (Benyamin Netanyahu) on Russia’s efforts to normalize the situation and “prevent further escalation of violence and a humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip,” the Kremlin statement said.

“The Israeli side was informed of the main points of the telephone contacts made earlier today with the leaders of the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Iran and Syria,” the same statement underlined.

Earlier, however, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed concern today over a “catastrophic increase” in the number of civilian casualties in Gaza and a possible escalation of the conflict between Israel and Palestinian Hamas that could develop into a “regional war “.

According to the Kremlin, Putin expressed his “deep concern over the escalation of large-scale hostilities, accompanied by a catastrophic increase in the number of civilian casualties and the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip,” during a phone call. conversation with the leaders of Iran, Egypt, Syria and the Palestinian Authority.

The leaders unanimously expressed the need for an “immediate ceasefire and the achievement of a humanitarian ceasefire in order to urgently provide aid to all those in need,” the Kremlin added in a statement.

Putin’s counterparts “underscored the seriousness of the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the need to lift the blockade on the urgent supply of medicine, food and other vital goods.”

“Serious concerns were also expressed about the possibility of the conflict developing into a regional war,” the Kremlin also added.

Putin said he was willing to “coordinate efforts with all constructive partners to end hostilities as soon as possible and stabilize the situation”, and through the draft resolution submitted to the UN Security Council by Russia, which aims to achieving an “immediate, balanced and non-politicized humanitarian ceasefire”.

Vladimir Putin has reiterated once again that a sustainable settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires the “establishment of an independent Palestinian state.”

Putin held talks with the presidents of Egypt Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Iran Ibrahim Raishi, Syria Bashar al-Assad and Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas before meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The ongoing crisis is “at the center of President” Putin’s attention, his diplomatic adviser Yuri Ushakov assured.

Russia has traditionally maintained good relations with both the Israeli and Palestinian authorities, as well as several regional actors such as Syria, Egypt and Iran. It is also a member of the Middle East Quartet — along with the United States, the European Union and the UN — formed to mediate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Turkey is in contact with Hamas regarding the hostages

The head of Turkish diplomacy spoke by phone with Hamas leader Ismail Haniya about the “possibility” of releasing the hostages, who are being held after Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced today.

“Foreign Minister Haqan Fidan had a telephone conversation with the head of the Hamas political office, Ismail Haniya, about the latest developments in Palestine and the possibility of the release of civilians,” the ministry noted.

Israel: We can fight on two fronts at once

Israel, for its part, is gathering more and more troops on the border with Gaza. The IDF spokesman stated that they are determined to complete their mission, namely the extermination of Hamas, stressing that “we can fight on two fronts at the same time”, meaning the front with Hezbollah, on the border with Lebanon.

As the spokesman said, the operation at this stage is focused on gathering information about the hostages and identifying the places where they are imprisoned, however it is unclear when and under what conditions the army’s ground operation in Gaza will begin.

However, the pounding of Hamas positions continues both from the air, with aircraft, and from the ground, with artillery.