Middle East crisis live: Trump visit offers only chance to avoid new Gaza onslaught, Israeli official warns

The forthcoming visit of US President Donald Trump to the Middle East next week could be the last chance to avoid a fresh onslaught on the Gaza Strip, warns a high-ranking Israeli defence official. This visit offers a “window of opportunity” for a hostage deal, as Israel prepares to expand its operations in Gaza to establish a “sustained presence”.

The looming crisis in the Middle East has been exacerbated by years of conflict, with the Gaza Strip being particularly hard hit. Health services in this Palestinian territory have been devastated by the Israeli invasion, leaving a significant portion of its population, especially children, in dire need of medical assistance.

In a bid to alleviate some of this suffering, one of Pope Francis’s popemobiles is being converted into a mobile health clinic for children in the Gaza Strip. This initiative, announced by the Vatican yesterday, fulfils one of the late pontiff’s final wishes.

The vehicle, previously used by Pope Francis during his 2014 visit to the Holy Land, is currently being equipped with diagnostic and emergency medical equipment. This mobile clinic aims to reach young patients in remote areas of the Palestinian territory, where health services are either non-existent or severely limited due to the ongoing conflict.

A Vatican spokesperson explained, “The Pope’s wish was to see this vehicle, which once brought him closer to the people during his pastoral visits, to continue serving a humanitarian purpose. This is a concrete example of his deep concern for the people of Gaza, especially the children, who have been victims of a conflict that is not of their making.”

The crisis in the Gaza Strip has escalated in recent years due to continuous Israeli invasions. The United Nations has repeatedly warned that Gaza could become uninhabitable by 2020 if the current situation doesn’t change.

President Trump’s visit to the region comes at a crucial time. The Israeli defence official, who chose to remain anonymous, stated, “We view President Trump’s visit as a critical window of opportunity. We hope that the US, as a key ally and mediator in the region, can facilitate a hostage deal and help avoid a new onslaught on Gaza.”

The official further added that Israel is preparing to expand its operations in Gaza to establish a “sustained presence”. He did not elaborate on what this expansion would entail, but it has raised concerns among observers about a potential escalation in the conflict.

The US has long been viewed as a critical player in the Middle East peace process. President Trump’s visit next week, his first to the region since taking office, is highly anticipated. However, it also comes with high stakes. His diplomatic skills and ability to negotiate a hostage deal could be key to preventing another round of violence in the Gaza Strip.

As Israel prepares for potential escalation and Gaza’s health services continue to crumble, the transformation of Pope Francis’s popemobile into a mobile health clinic offers a glimmer of hope. It stands as a symbol of the international community’s commitment to alleviating the suffering of the people in Gaza, and especially the children, who bear the brunt of a conflict they did not choose.

The Pope’s mobile clinic, once a symbol of pastoral care and closeness to the faithful, now takes on a new mission: to bring essential health services to the children of a region ravaged by conflict. It is a mission that is not only medical but also profoundly humanitarian, echoing the Pope’s wish for peace and healing in the Holy Land.

https://infotide.news

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