meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Pressure builds for truce in Gaza conflict

9 February 2024

Pressure is mounting on Israel to accede to a ceasefire and hostage-prisoner exchange agreement after a visit to the region by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and amid ongoing negotiations between the warring parties under Egyptian and Qatari mediation.

Blinken’s visit focused on nudging Israel towards some sort of ceasefire agreement that would see the release of the hostages, but the US overture was again rebuffed by the Netanyahu government, which continues to bristle at the prospect of a truce.

As if in reaction to the pressure, the Israeli side has ratcheted up its own rhetoric again in the past week. It has asserted that its goal remains the complete dismantling of Hamas, and announced that it would launch a military operation in Rafah, the Egypt-Gaza border crossing area and a designated safe zone.

Nevertheless, there is dwindling political space, both internationally and domestically, for the Israeli government to manoeuvre away from a truce. Even Israel’s allies are tiring of the conflict and anger is building in Israel over the failure to secure the return of the hostages.

For more neutral parties around the world, the indictment of Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for plausibly committing crimes amounting to genocide has doubled up the existing risk of complicity with war crimes with the risk of complicity with genocide.

The case has changed the calculus for governments and companies with ties to Israel. It has already led to counteractions, including the suspension of export licences by the government of the Belgian province of Wallonia – in addition to an existing arms suspension by Spain.

In Japan, major arms manufacturer Itochu announced that its aviation arm would end its collaboration with Israel’s largest weapons company, Elbit Systems, citing the ICJ ruling, Japan’s respect for the court, and its obligation to avoid complicity.

Mismatched expectations

Back at the negotiating table, Hamas has itself increased the pressure on Israel by establishing its own amenability to a ceasefire and hostage release – suggesting a three-phased release of Israeli hostages on one side and Palestinian prisoners and administration detainees on the other side.

Each phase would last 45 days, for a total term of 135 days, with the first phase focusing on the release of detained Israeli women, children, elderly and the sick in exchange for 1,500 Palestinian detainees.

The second phase would then see male detainees released, followed by the bodies of those killed in the fighting or during the siege and bombardment of the Gaza Strip in the third phase.

Hamas also stated the requirement that at least 500 trucks of aid and fuel be allowed into the Gaza Strip daily, that residents have freedom of movement, and that border crossings be opened.

The Hamas deal outline also contained requirements unlikely to appeal to the Israeli government. These include the requirement that 60,000 temporary homes and 300,000 tents be let into the strip and that Israel commit to rebuilding the destroyed infrastructure within three years.

The demand not just for the delivery of humanitarian aid – as already obliged to be provided under international law and as reiterated by the ICJ – but for actual material assistance appears almost fantastical given the fanatical tilt of much of Netanyahu’s far-right cabinet.

Pressure from all sides

The Israeli government’s immediate response to Hamas’ outline was one of dismissal and pushback. While this was expected, there remains considerable momentum behind the scenes for some sort of a deal under the multilateral negotiations in Egypt.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chosen response was to state off camera that Israel would not end the war but push on to “total victory” over Hamas. Yet behind the bluster of this reaction, the news was floated that Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency was studying the terms.

Meanwhile, those close to the deal remain optimistic about a positive outcome in another one to two weeks. Such a timescale would also benefit Israel by allowing it to present the deal as proof of progress under the ICJ provisional measures that it is required to report on at the end of the month.

The other deadline is the start of Ramadan on 9 March, when Muslims around the globe are bound by faith to pay particular attention to those less fortunate around them. The optics for Israel, and in turn for the US, will be disastrous if the unfettered killing continues in this period.

In his pre-departure remarks, Blinken reiterated the US position that Palestinian civilian casualties in Gaza were too high and affirmed that there was “space” for a potential truce agreement in a clear contradiction of Netanyahu’s messaging.

This repudiation of the Israeli position has become part of a discernible pattern of commentary from the US establishment in recent days that gives the appearance that Washington is increasingly interested in distancing itself from the Israeli government.

After four months of unconditional support for Israel, and amid flagging US presidential polling numbers in connection with the ongoing violence, a recalibration is under way – with Joe Biden late on 8 February declaring Israel’s actions “over the top”.

Former US secretary of state and Democrat insider Hillary Clinton was also interviewed in a move that appears highly choreographed to blame Netanyahu for failing the hostages while labelling him “not trustworthy” and calling for him to leave office.

The upshot of all this is that despite the resistance to a deal from the Israeli government, external and internal pressure is now reaching the point where resisting a ceasefire is incurring an exorbitant political cost – one that even Netanyahu may find himself unable to pay.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/11504887/main.gif
John Bambridge

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Chinese firm signs deal for Algerian steel project

    24 November 2025

    China’s Sinomach Heavy Equipment has signed a contract to develop a steel rolling facility in Algeria.

    The project will be executed by its subsidiary, China National Heavy Machinery Corporation (CNHMC).

    The turnkey contract includes planning, design, equipment supply, construction, installation and commissioning.

    The scope of the project includes:

    • A rolling mill production line
    • Auxiliary facilities
    • Steel structure workshops

    In a statement, CNHMC said: “The signing of this contract marks a new stage in the company's market expansion in the African metallurgical sector.

    “CNHMC will fully leverage its technological and management advantages in the metallurgical field, strictly control the project's quality and schedule, and strive to complete and deliver the project on schedule with high quality and high standards, making it a benchmark project in the Algerian market.”

    The company said it will use its regional headquarters in Turkiye to ramp up its activities in the Algerian market and other neighbouring countries.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15139865/main3657.jpg
    Wil Crisp
  • Contractors submit Riyadh Expo infrastructure bids

    24 November 2025

     

    Saudi Arabia’s Expo 2030 Riyadh Company (ERC), which is tasked with delivering the Expo 2030 Riyadh venue, received commercial bids from contractors on 23 November for the tender to undertake the initial infrastructure works at the site.

    The tender for the project’s initial infrastructure works was issued in September, MEED previously reported.

    In October, MEED revealed that 16 firms had been invited to bid for the contract to undertake the initial infrastructure works at the Expo 2030 Riyadh site.

    The firms invited to bid include:

    • Shibh Al-Jazira Contracting (local)
    • Hassan Allam Construction (Egypt)
    • El-Seif Engineering Contracting (local)
    • Al-Ayuni Investment & Contracting (local)
    • Kolin Construction (Turkiye)
    • Al-Yamama Trading & Contracting Company (local)
    • Saudi Pan Kingdom (local)
    • Unimac (local)
    • Mapa Insaat (Turkiye)
    • Yuksel Insaat (Turkiye)
    • IC Ictas / Al-Rashid Trading & Contracting (Turkiye/local)
    • Mota-Engil / Albawani (Portugal/local)
    • Almabani / FCC Construction (local/Spain)

    The overall infrastructure works – covering the construction of the main utilities and civil works at Expo 2030 Riyadh – will be split into three packages:

    • Lot 1 covers the main utilities corridor
    • Lot 2 includes the northern cluster of the nature corridor
    • Lot 3 comprises the southern cluster of the nature corridor

    In July, US-based engineering firm Bechtel Corporation announced it had won the project management consultancy deal for the delivery of the Expo 2030 Riyadh masterplan construction works.

    The masterplan encompasses an area of 6 square kilometres, making it one of the largest sites designated for a World Expo event. Situated to the north of the Saudi capital, the site will be located near the future King Salman International airport, providing direct access to various landmarks within Riyadh.

    Countries participating in Expo 2030 Riyadh will have the option to construct permanent pavilions. This initiative is expected to create opportunities for business and investment growth in the region.

    The expo is forecast to attract more than 40 million visitors.

    The Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth vehicle, launched ERC in June as a wholly owned subsidiary to build and operate facilities for Expo 2030.

    In a statement, the PIF said: “During its construction phases, Expo 2030 Riyadh and its legacy are projected to contribute around $64bn to Saudi GDP and generate approximately 171,000 direct and indirect jobs. Once operational, it is expected to contribute approximately $5.6bn to GDP.”

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15140538/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Chinese firm signs deal for 4GW Saudi solar project

    24 November 2025

    Chinese firm Arctech has announced a cooperation agreement with PowerChina Huadong Engineering for the 4.2GW Afif solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Saudi Arabia.

    The partnership will involve Arctech supplying its SkyLine 2 single-axis tracking system, designed to follow the sun in high-wind and desert environments.

    Located near Riyadh, the Afif solar complex forms part of the Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) 15GW renewables programme announced earlier this year.

    It comprises two independent power projects (IPPs): Afif 1 (1.8GW) and Afif 2 (2.4GW). PowerChina Huadong is the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for both schemes.

    In October, a consortium of Acwa Power, Water & Electricity Holding Company (Badeel) and Saudi Aramco Power Company (Sapco) reached financial close on five solar IPPs under the PIF programme, including Afif 1 and Afif 2.

    The deals were signed at the ninth Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh.

    The five projects have a combined value of about $6.4bn and a total capacity of more than 12GW. They include the 3GW Bisha solar IPP, the 3GW Humaij solar IPP and the 2GW Khulis solar IPP.

    India’s Larsen & Toubro is the EPC contractor for the Bisha and Humaij solar projects.

    China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEEC) recently signed the EPC contract for the 2GW Khulis solar PV project. 

    The firm also signed EPC contracts for the two remaining projects in the renewables package, the 1GW Shaqra wind project and the 2GW Starah wind project, reaching $2.75bn in contracts across the three projects.

    All schemes under the 15GW PIF renewables package are scheduled to begin operating between the second half of 2027 and the first half of 2028.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15133404/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Wafra Joint Operations seeks more participation for upstream tender

    24 November 2025

     

    Wafra Joint Operations (WJO) is seeking more participation from companies in a tender for a project to upgrade a key oil and gas gathering centre in the Divided Zone, which is shared between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, according to industry sources.

    A pre-bid meeting was held for the project, but due to low interest at the original meeting, WJO is now planning a second meeting.

    The project is focused on upgrading the main gathering centre at the Wafra field, which processes Eocene crude oil.

    WJO’s onshore operations cover an area of around 5,000 square kilometres in the Divided Zone.

    Saudi Arabian Chevron and Kuwait Gulf Oil Company are equal shareholders in WJO.

    Six major fields have been discovered in the WJO area to date: Wafra, South Fuwaris, South Umm-Gudair, Humma, Arq and North Wafra.

    The first discovery in this area was made in 1954, when the first well in the Wafra Field was drilled and completed.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15139837/main.png
    Wil Crisp
  • Egypt places fuel order for El-Dabaa nuclear plant

    21 November 2025

    Egypt’s government has signed a nuclear fuel purchase order for the first unit of the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant, which is expected to be operational in 2026.

    The fuel order was signed with Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom).

    The signing ceremony was attended by Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli. It included senior officials from Egypt’s Ministry of Electricity & Renewable Energy and the Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA).

    The agreement coincided with the installation of the VVER-1200 Generation III+ reactor pressure vessel for the project’s first unit.

    The El-Dabaa nuclear power plant will have four units, each capable of generating 1,200MW of electricity. The VVER-1200 Generation III+ reactor model has been selected for all four units.

    Egypt and Russia signed the initial inter-governmental agreement for the North African state’s first nuclear facility in November 2015.

    Rosatom, the project’s main contractor, announced that it started the production of electrical components in Saint Petersburg for a reactor vessel for the plant in June 2022.

    The two countries also agreed on broader cooperation covering nuclear technology, medical radioisotopes, technical applications such as 3D printing, and communications.

    El-Dabaa project status

    In September 2023, the Egyptian Nuclear & Radiological Regulation Authority (ENRRA) granted a construction permit for the plant’s fourth reactor. ENRRA granted the construction permit for unit three in March that year and units one and two in June 2022 and October 2022, respectively.

    In November 2022, South Korea’s Doosan Enerbility signed a contract valued at $1.2bn with state-owned South Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), a subsidiary of Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco), for the project.

    Rosatom subsidiary ASE earlier appointed KHNP as the single supplier for constructing the turbine islands.

    The simultaneous installation of the reactor pressure vessel and fuel order indicates that Unit 1 has transitioned from civil construction into the core mechanical and systems-installation phase.

    The latest advancements align with Egypt’s annual Nuclear Energy Day, observed on 19 November to mark the 2015 agreement that initiated the El-Dabaa project.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15132504/main37223922.jpg
    Mark Dowdall