After almost five months of Israeli operation in Gaza, the Palestinian enclave is in a more than critical humanitarian situation. Intense diplomatic negotiations – where the United States and Qatar play a leading role – are underway to achieve a new 40-day truce during Ramadan.
The release of 132 Israeli hostages, held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, is also at the center of concerns. The United States, Israel's unwavering ally, is beginning to harden its position towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to find a way out of the conflict.