Israel in ‘direct and indirect contact’ with Arab nations over potential Gaza ceasefire – official

Israel is in “direct and indirect contact” with Arab countries in order to calm the situation in Gaza and reach a ceasefire, an Israeli diplomat tells the Times of Israel.

The official would not lay out which countries Jerusalem is working with, nor say whether Saudi Arabia and Qatar are among them.

Statements from Arab capitals are “sharp but not extreme,” says the official.

“We are not expecting solidarity from the Jordanians,” they say. “There is nothing that is different from previous rounds.”

Turning to Europe, the official stresses that while statements out of Brussels and some European states are “not extremely balanced,” there is no demand for the IDF to stop operating, and Israel’s right to self defense is being acknowledged.

“This is familiar territory,” says the official.