Sudan turmoil: Israel calls for ceasefire 'to save peace treaty prospects'
Israel has reportedly urged Sudanese military and paramilitary forces to end the fighting that has so far claimed over 330 lives.
In a report published by Axios on Thursday, three Israeli officials are cited as saying that they are concerned that the ongoing violence will prevent the formation of a civilian government and end prospects for a peace agreement with Sudan.
Israel's establishment of diplomatic ties with Sudan and the rapport it developed with the Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the leader of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (also known as Hemeti), has given it a distinctive advantage to exert influence over the two opposing generals.
In 2020, Sudan became a signatory to the Abraham Accords, a peace agreement between Israel and a number of Arab nations mediated by the Trump administration.
Following the military coup in Sudan in 2021, the normalisation process between Israel and Sudan was put on hold, and US aid was suspended.
According to Axios, the Israeli foreign ministry officials have been in communication with al-Burhan, while Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency has been engaged with Hemeti to address security and counterterrorism concerns.
The report added that the Israeli authorities kept a close eye on the negotiations in Sudan concerning the establishment of a framework agreement aimed at the formation of a government led by civilians.
Sudan has piqued the interests of numerous countries, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, all of whom are involved in the country's political landscape.
Hemeti has accused Egypt of collusion with al-Burhan, alleging that Egypt sent fighter jets and troops to aid the Sudanese military, which Cairo has denied. The situation in Sudan has also drawn the attention of other nations and international organisations, such as Norway, the UN, and the African Union.
Despite this, Israeli officials have chosen not to take sides in the conflict and avoid getting involved in any mediation efforts, except for calling for a ceasefire.
According to Axios, Israeli officials believe that the best way to put an end to the fighting is for the African Union and Sudan's neighbouring countries to dispatch a delegation to Khartoum urgently and initiate diplomatic negotiations while providing guarantees to both sides to persuade them to cease hostilities.
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