Ceasefire hopes fade as Israel-Hamas tensions threaten Red Sea stability

On Sunday, discussions about a six-week ceasefire in the Gaza Strip were scheduled to take place in Cairo. Delegates from Hamas, along with representatives from the USA and Qatar, who are expected to act as mediators alongside Egypt, had arrived. However, the Israeli representative did not. Tel Aviv has stated this will not change until the Palestinian organisation provides a list of living hostages, with approximately 130 people being held.

This situation makes it increasingly likely that Israel will begin the next phase of war during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, starting on March 10, which includes attacking the cities of Rafah, home to about 1.5 million people.

The fading prospect of a truce reduces the chances of ending the crisis in the Red Sea. This involves significant disruptions to the crucial global trade route through the Suez Canal, caused by Yemeni Houthi fighters attacking ships in the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

It isn't just about the increased delivery times by sea and the rising transport costs, which are already impacting Europe. Over the weekend, Houthi attacks led to the sinking of a bulk carrier carrying over 21 tonnes of artificial fertilizers, posing a threat to the Red Sea's natural environment.

The Houthi fighters have declared they will continue their attacks until a ceasefire is declared in the Gaza Strip and Israeli troops withdraw. The push for a ceasefire is also intensified by the United States, with presidential elections on the horizon. Although the USA is attempting to protect commercial ships in the Red Sea, their defence efforts have proven insufficient.

US Vice President Kamala Harris called on Sunday for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and urged Israel to increase humanitarian aid flow to its residents. It's worth noting that the casualty count there has surpassed 30,000, while about 1,200 died in the Hamas attack on October 7.

"People in Gaza are starving. The conditions are inhumane, and humanitarianism compels us to act. The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. There are no excuses," said the US vice president.

Reuter notes that this statement was among the harshest from top US government officials towards Israel.

In the meantime, the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) is set to publish a report evidencing regular torture of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip detained by the Israeli military in temporary centers in Israel, as reported by "The New York Times".

Testimonies collected by UNRWA from Palestinians detail numerous instances of beatings, sexual exploitation, degrading treatment such as stripping naked, inciting military dogs on civilians, theft, and deprivation of medical aid to Gaza Strip residents for over a month.

These testimonies include accounts from men and women aged six to 82 years, including individuals with intellectual disabilities, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease.

The torture aimed to extract confessions and to humiliate and "punish" individuals for alleged cooperation with Hamas, though these accusations often had no basis in reality, according to "NYT".

The Israeli military has denied all allegations, with the Netanyahu government maintaining that those pressuring Tel Aviv for a ceasefire "want Israel's defeat".