Cassis expresses concern about developments in the Middle East
Published: Wednesday, Jul 31st 2024, 13:10
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During a media conference at the Maison Suisse at the Olympic Games in Paris on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis expressed his concern about the latest developments in the conflict between Israel and Iran. Unfortunately, we can see that the situation is not getting any easier, said Cassis.
Since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip last year, Switzerland has tried to contribute to de-escalation through diplomatic channels. He appealed to the parties to the conflict to hold back with further reactions, Cassis continued. Diplomatic efforts were being made day and night to find a solution. "A way out must be found through diplomatic channels. There is always one if you really want to," said the Foreign Minister.
The question now is what consequences the killing of the political leader of the Islamist Hamas, Ismail Hanija, will have at regional and supra-regional level - and also for Europe and Switzerland. The killing corresponds with Israel's strategy of wanting to eliminate Hamas. A possible regional expansion of the conflict must be prevented, Cassis continued.
The news of Hanija's killing sent the Middle East into turmoil on Wednesday morning. According to the terrorist organization, Hanija was killed in an Israeli attack on his residence in Iran's capital Tehran. Hanija had been chairman of the Hamas politburo since 2017.
Just a few hours earlier, according to the Israeli army, Fuad Shukr, a senior commander of the Shia militia Hezbollah, was killed in an airstrike on a suburb of the Lebanese capital Beirut. Since the beginning of the Gaza war around ten months ago, a whole series of Hamas military and political officials have already been killed - or are presumed dead.
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