On the Brink of War: Israel's Ongoing Conflict
Following the horrifying terror attack on Israel on October 7, and the consequential devastating military onslaught on Gaza, some were optimistic despite the despair that the situation could influence the path towards peace. Omar Dajani, a previous legal advisor to the Palestinian negotiation teams, believed that possibility did exist. However, a year later, this glimmer of hope has been extinguished. The Israeli population is distressed and distraught, with families in darkness about the survival of the hostages held by Hamas. Concurrently, the inhabitants of Gaza have been subjected to a severe humanitarian calamity as Israel executes intense airstrikes.
These airstrikes have led to the death of thousands of Palestinians, a large majority being women and children, and the devastation of major portions of the region. Israel has since then turned its focus north, with airstrikes and ground invasion leading to many deaths and displacement in Lebanon. Presently, Israel and Iran are on the verge of a full-fledged war which has repercussions for global powers as their diplomatic endeavors have not resulted in conflict resolution.
A shocking attack at a music festival in the Negev Desert one year ago resulted in the death of many civilians. Hamas fighters breached the Gaza-Israel border, leading to chaos, death, and subsequent abductions. This, unfortunately, was one of many horrors experienced by Israeli citizens. Apart from the trauma inflicted on civilians, the international Jewish community too has been the target of increasing antisemitism.
Iran-backed groups from across the Middle East have come forward in defense of the Palestinians. Contrary to this, Israeli groups argue that these organizations only aim to annihilate the Jewish state. These attacks from all sides have made Israel feel vulnerable and unstable. The Israeli public opinion has swayed over time, with over half of the population now favoring withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for the return of the remaining hostages. However, the resolve of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the total annihilation of Hamas complicates this potential solution. The crisis has also been accused of being a political tool for Netanyahu to sidestep his corruption charges.
With the initiation of Hamas' attacks on Israel, Gaza experienced unparalleled bombing. The bombings led to an extensive loss of life among Palestinians, widespread destruction of infrastructure, and almost the entire population being displaced. In addition, by cutting off the supplies of essentials like electricity, food, water, and gas, Israel has worsened the crisis for the residents of the already impoverished region. Despite the international criticism, the weapon supplies to Israel from the U.S. have only increased. Amid escalating violence, the global Palestinian support has also grown, leading to charges against UK and Israel for alleged war crimes.
Gaza and Israel have not been alone in their turmoil. The occupied West Bank has also experienced significant violence against Palestinians by extremist Jewish settlers. In addition, Lebanon, facing attacks from both Hezbollah and Israel, is steeped in a fresh humanitarian crisis with a vast number of people driven from their homes. Iran retaliated with missiles after Israel carried out an attack killing several senior officials of Hezbollah, an Iran-funded group. The rising tensions between Iran and Israel have only intensified fear for a more widespread and devastating conflict.