The leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom issued a stern warning this morning (Monday) to Iran and its allies, calling on them to refrain from an attack that could exacerbate tensions in the Middle East. “Such an attack would jeopardize the opportunity for a ceasefire and a hostage deal,” said French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Schulz and British Prime Minister Keir Strammer. The leaders emphasized that in the event of an escalation, Iran and its proxies will be held responsible, adding that “no country will get away with another escalation in the region.”
The leaders also thanked Qatar, Egypt and the US for their efforts to promote the renewal of contacts for the deal, saying: “We agree that there is no room for further delays. We have worked with all parties to prevent escalation and we will not spare efforts to achieve stability.” In addition, they called for an end to the fighting and the release of the abductees still held by Hamas, emphasizing the need for urgent help for the residents of Gaza.
Meanwhile, Hamas has announced that it will not send a delegation to the summit planned for Thursday in Doha or Cairo. Sources in Israel estimate that the reason for this is Yahya Sinwar’s waiting for a planned attack by Iran and Hezbollah, as part of the hope for the “unification of the arenas” that has not yet occurred. It is estimated that in the event of a regional attack, it is possible that the IDF will reduce its activities in Gaza, which will speed up the ceasefire talks.
Israel conveyed messages according to which it is possible to bridge the gaps with Hamas at the summit and reach an agreement within a few days. However, reports published yesterday claim that Iran has decided to attack Israel directly, despite estimates that it is “reconsidering” its response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. The IDF spokesman, Lt. Col. Daniel Hagari, stated in a statement that there is no change in the directives of the Home Front Command, and that the forces are prepared and ready for any scenario.
At the same time, the Lebanese newspaper Al-Jumhoriya reported that Hezbollah is evacuating its headquarters in Da’ahia, including computer equipment, which indicates preparation for an Israeli response. In the meantime, the Pentagon announced that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Defense Minister Yoav Galant and ordered the ballistic missile submarine USS GEORGIA to be sent to the Middle East.
The Pentagon statement said that Austin emphasized the commitment of the United States to defend Israel and pointed to the strengthening of American forces in the Middle East in light of the growing tensions.
