Israel is out to invade and devastate the Gaza Strip once again. Its warning to evacuate the enclave and threat to use indiscriminate force is nothing but barbarism. Perhaps, it is emboldened with the criminal silence of the world community which has done nothing but lip-service in addressing one of the most existential crises of today. Likewise, partisanship prevalent among the Arab and Muslim countries as they have restricted themselves to mere condemnation statements has added fuel to the fire, and Tel Aviv is unchecked as it flexes its muscles. Hamas’ adventure last week is now taking a toll, and in the absence of a firm supply route to the militia to sustain its punch over the Jewish state, its time-bound successes are turning into a nightmare for the dispossessed Palestinians. And now with retaliatory airstrikes all over the occupied territories, it is a tale of death and destruction.
Hamas, at least, has made a strong point by once again bringing to the fore the necessity of a permanent solution to the territorial-cum-humanitarian crisis in the heart of Mideast. The psychological support it has drawn from Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the political backing from Iran has evenly pitched the conflict. It has the potential to escalate into a regional war. The US will have to wear two hats of fighting both the undesired wars as it comes out to salvage the Zionist state too after its meddling with Kyiv. What ramifications it will have on the global economy, apart from humanitarian and supply chain is not hard to guess. This volatility in the Middle East is all owing to Israeli intransigence as it refuses to admit that there is a problem that is in need of being solved.
Tel Aviv’s desire for collective punishment of Palestinians, in the guise of obliterating Hamas, is a crime against humanity. With Hamas holding around 100 Israelis as captives, it should come as an opportunity for the War Cabinet in East Jerusalem to talk it out with the Palestinians. This time around the format should be for a full and final territorial settlement.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2023.
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