Israel Hamas conflict
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has sparked a debate that has taken a new turn with a statement from American President Joe Biden. Biden, while maintaining a tough stance on Hamas and its actions, likened both Hamas and Russia to enemies of democracy. This comparison amid the ongoing conflict could carry significant implications and is happening amidst fears of a potential third world war. It is worth noting that during his recent visit to Israel this week, Biden stressed the need for holding Hamas accountable. However, he also cautioned Israelis not to repeat the same mistakes made by the United States after the 9/11 attacks. The unrestrained attacks in Gaza have indeed made it clear to Biden that it is crucial to differentiate between Hamas and the Palestinian people.
Over the past 15 days, the ongoing conflict has reached a stage where a call for peace has been heard amidst the noise of war. This has become inevitable as Israel continues to intensify its attacks on the Gaza Strip, with the goal of eradicating Hamas. While Palestinian territories suffer heavy losses, Israel has not presented a clear exit plan, nor does it seem to have a plan for governing a devastated Palestinian territory after a victorious war.
Although it seems unlikely that Israel will completely annihilate Hamas, there is also no indication of how Israel intends to handle the situation once the fighting is over. The fear is that this ongoing conflict might lead to new fronts in the form of support for Hamas from Hezbollah and Iran beyond the Gaza borders. Arab nations are not entirely confident either, as several leaders in those regions have strongly opposed turning Palestinians into collective victims of attacks, irrespective of their stance on Hamas. This puts India in a difficult situation too, considering its growing role in Middle Eastern geopolitics.
Amid these concerns, the prevailing notion is that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is currently escalating, is potentially widening the rift between the United States and Russia. The similarity between Israel’s current operations in Gaza and the previous two major wars is striking. In both cases, Israel began its military campaigns with the support of terrorist groups, first with Hezbollah in 2006 and now with Hamas. The key concern is that if this conflict escalates further, it might draw in other nations and exacerbate the existing fault lines in the region, posing a threat to global peace.
In these discussions, it becomes evident that the conflict between India and Israel remains a complex diplomatic challenge. India’s strengthened ties with Arab nations have already put it in a unique position, and how India navigates the situation in the coming days will be closely watched. While Indian foreign policy has achieved remarkable milestones by establishing cordial relations with Iran, Arab nations, and Israel simultaneously, the recent conflict has raised fears that these countries might become embroiled in wider tensions.
These concerns arise at a time when a potential conflict in Ukraine, precipitated by Russian aggression, had already exposed fault lines among nations. Israel-Palestine is now deepening those fault lines. It is becoming increasingly clear that a confrontation in this region could be the catalyst for a broader war. This war would not only affect the Middle East but also jeopardize global peace. The key point to ponder is how India should align its policies in response to any terrorist attack or conflict around the world. The Indian government must not forget the instances where the support of Israel and the access to arms and ammunition have benefited India.
The ongoing conflict is causing alarm not only in the Middle East but also among emerging nations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America who are not prepared to navigate these old fault lines. The fears are similar to the ones that the United States experienced following the 9/11 attacks. Immediate invasions have caused severe damage to Western powers and credibility. In conclusion, the consequences of the ongoing conflict are likely to be profound and severe, and the victor may be neither the United States nor Israel, nor Palestine. It is possible that only Russia and China may emerge as potential victors if a full-scale war unfolds.
