Bid to ease tensions speeds up

Protection for civilians

"Civilians on both sides must always have full protection under international humanitarian law and must never be a target of conflict," the statement read, adding that the UAE remains in close contact with its partners to return to negotiations within the parameters of the two-state solution for Palestinians and Israelis, "who deserve to live in peace and dignity".

Given the hostilities affecting civilians, Kamaruzaman bin Yusoff, a Middle East analyst and former dean of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia's Faculty of Islamic Civilization, told China Daily that "we should not consider the current escalation of war and hostilities between the Palestinian people and the Israeli government as the first and the last".

He said these are considered "as part of the long processes of attacks, conflicts, hostilities between the two parties".

Hamas said its offensive by land, air and sea was in response to the desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque as well as Israeli atrocities against Palestinians over the decades.

Israeli analysts say Hamas has carefully planned the military operation. Yoel Guzansky, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Israel, told Xinhua News Agency that Hamas' preparation for the military operations is "estimated to have taken several months".

The latest assault occurred around the 50th anniversary of the 1973 war, when Israel was attacked on Oct 6, 1973, one of the holiest days on the Jewish calendar.

Jasim Husain, a Gulf analyst and former member of Bahrain's parliament, told China Daily that the conflict "is now being termed Hamas-Israel conflict", which does not include the whole resistance movement.

"This conflict could have some major repercussions on the peace process in the region," he added.

Belal Alakhras, a political analyst and Palestinian researcher at the University of Malaya in Malaysia, told China Daily that considering the significant impact of the Palestinian issue on the Middle East and its resonance on the global agenda, it is crucial for nations and major powers to "explore alternative approaches".