With Ramadan fast approaching – likely to start on 10 March – and with Israeli prime minister Benyamin Natanyahu repeatedly threatening to launch a direct assault on Rafah, a last haven where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are now taking shelter in the most difficult situations imaginable, moderate Arab governments, especially those who have established relations with Israel, and others who were considering doing so, find themselves under huge pressure from their domestic public opinion. Having just vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease fire in Gaza, the United States, acutely aware of the fragility of the situation, is now desperately pushing for a cease fire during Ramadan.
Already, nearly 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October, many of them women and children. A direct assault on Rafah is likely to result in many more fatalities. The prospect of a Palestinian bloodbath during Ramadan is considerably unsettling Arab governments, who whilst not often directly influenced by the views of their populations, cannot ignore them either when feelings are running high.
Ramadan is the month of fasting for Muslims, but it is also an occasion for social gatherings. Families and friends come together, and in the long nights when the fast is broken they share views on those things that matter to them. Gaza will no doubt this year be a leading topic, as people remember that whilst they break the fast with big meals and delicacies, in Gaza, the Palestinians are starving.
Western countries, whose reputations in the Arab and Muslim worlds have been greatly damaged by their position on Gaza, are now frantically trying to avoid this by pushing for a ceasefire during Ramadan.
On Monday, US President Joe Biden said Israel agreed to halt its Gaza offensive during Ramadan under a ceasefire deal that is being negotiated. "Ramadan's coming up and there's been an agreement by the Israelis that they would not engage in activities during Ramadan as well, in order to give us time to get all the hostages out," Mr Biden said in an interview on the US network NBC.
Mr Biden expressed hope that there would be a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war in place by "the end of the weekend". “My National Security Adviser [Jake Sullivan] tells me that we're close … we're not done yet,” he said.
The US has been working with Egypt and Qatar to broker an agreement that would lead to Hamas releasing the remaining hostages in exchange for an extended pause in fighting.
An earlier proposal by the three sides was rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Hamas made a counter-offer that he called “delusional”.
There is no longer an “Arab Street”, but on social media the mood is sombre
There was a time in the Middle East when you could talk about the “Arab street”. People would hear news on the radio and pour out on the streets to express their views. With politics and public opinion these days much more tightly controlled that hardly happens any more. Social media has replaced the “Arab Street”, and here the mood on Gaza is dark and sombre. In the GCC, those countries that have established relations with Israel in recent years are acutely aware of the sensitivity of the moment, as are those countries who have not yet done so but have toyed with the idea. Official statements from these governments are becoming increasingly tougher as they try to create some space for manoevre.
In Geneva, on Monday (26 February), Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan warned against the “catastrophic consequences” of any Israeli attack on Rafah, in a speech at the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
“In this light, we warn against the disastrous repercussions of an attack on Rafah, as the last refuge for civilians, who are there due to the displacement by the Israeli army.”
Prince Faisal denounced the double standards adopted by some countries toward the crisis in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip. He also reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire.
“The Kingdom has repeatedly called on the international community to bear its responsibilities in stopping the war and irresponsible escalation to protect innocent civilians and to pave the way for a clear and credible peace process, which all parties are committed to,” he said.
Referring to the nearly 30,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza since the war on Hamas began last October, Prince Faisal said no institutional dialogue could be taken seriously if the situation in Palestine was overlooked.
Referring to human rights, the Minister asked, “What rights are we talking about, when Gaza is under the rubble? How can the international community stay silent when the people of Gaza are being displaced and are suffering from the most heinous forms of human rights violations?”
Bin Farhan added that “despite the death of 30,000 people and the starvation of more than 2 million people, the lack of security and basic services, such as water, electricity and medicine, the Security Council is still leaving meetings without a result.”
Saudi Arabia ultra sensitive to reports of contacts with Israel
In the meantime, Saudi Arabia continues to remain ultra sensitive to reports that it still maintains contacts with Israel .
The Kingdom reacted sharply on Monday (26 February), to allegations circulating on social media platforms regarding a meeting between its Minister of Commerce, Majid Al-Qasabi and an Israeli Minister.
An unnamed official, quoted by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), said that a video circulated of the two shaking hands was taken while Al-Qasabi was standing with his Nigerian counterpart, prior to the opening of the thirteenth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization in Abu Dhabi.
“The individual shook (the Saudi minister’s) hand and then was introduced, without (Al-Qasabi’s) prior knowledge,” the source told SPA.
This was followed by Israeli media reports claiming that the two discussed peace between Saudi Arabia and Israel, with one Israeli outlet running a picture of the two under the heading: “Israeli minister and Saudi counterpart shake hands and discuss ‘making history together.’”
The Saudi official source reiterated to SPA “Saudi Arabia’s firm position on the Palestinian issue and its steadfast support for the Palestinian people against Israeli aggression”.
