We speak with Dutch Palestinian analyst Mouin Rabbani about the latest developments in the Middle East as Israel continues its deadly assaults on Gaza and Lebanon. Qatar recently announced it will no longer act as mediator for ceasefire talks, saying the two sides were not serious about reaching a deal to stop the fighting. “This entire process from the outset has been a complete charade,” Rabbani says of the U.S.-backed ceasefire negotiations, urging Egypt to follow suit and also stop acting as a mediator. Rabbani also discusses how a second Trump administration could deal with the region, saying Trump’s “erratic” behavior makes predictions difficult, but that signs point to a more aggressive posture toward Iran.
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, “War, Peace and the Presidency.” I’m Amy Goodman.
We continue to look at Gaza, where Israeli forces launched a deadly attack early Sunday morning on a residential area in Jabaliya where displaced Palestinians were attempting to shelter, killing at least 36 people, including over a dozen children. Dozens of the victims were reportedly members of the same family, asleep when Israeli forces attacked their home. An eyewitness who lost several relatives described the horrific scene.
HAMZA ALLOUSH: [translated] We were just sitting peacefully. These are innocent citizens who don’t belong to any military organization or faction. The eldest man is 70 years old. The house of Abu Sobeh Al-Alooshe was bombed over the residents’ head without warning, which led to the martyrdom of everyone inside, more than 30 martyrs. Those who were lucky enough to survive were thrown onto the trees, onto the neighbors, and the remains are still scattered under the rubble.
AMY GOODMAN: Palestinian journalist Mohammed Khreis was killed along with his wife after an Israeli airstrike on their tent in the Nuseirat refugee camp. At least three more Gazan journalists were also killed in the Israeli strikes over the weekend.
The attacks happened as the people of Gaza marked over 400 days since Israel launched its latest war and as northern Gaza remains under a brutal siege, with hospitals surrounded by Israeli forces who have issued forced evacuation orders, but doctors and medical staff have refused to leave their patients behind. Amidst Israel’s relentless attacks, the Palestine Red Crescent Society helped evacuate some 20 patients from Al-Awda Hospital in Jabaliya and transferred them to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. PRCS reported at least one of the patients died as the ambulances were held up for hours at an Israeli checkpoint.
Meanwhile, the U.N.-backed Famine Review Committee has joined other humanitarian groups in issuing a dire warning that there is a, quote, “strong likelihood that famine is imminent in areas” of northern Gaza.
This all comes as Qatar has suspended its efforts to mediate a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal until, they say, Israel and Hamas show, quote, “willingness and seriousness” to........