A recent wave of violence on both sides of Israel and Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip resulted in more than 17000 deaths of Palestinians and 1200 Israelis. The world witnessed a pleasant moment when a seven-day truce released hostages and prisoners from both sides. That is a sigh of huge relief to families and the government to get their citizens held captive by militant group Hamas. While Palestinian prisoners mainly women, children and teenagers were freed from Israeli jails. A sight and moment of happiness enveloped the environment. But it did not last long and soon both sides blamed each other for violating truce terms and conditions. Israel retaliated with heavy bombardment of the Gaza Strip, expanding military operations completely to wipe out the Hamas militant group.
Israel’s war waged against Hamas has seen rage and it razed down the structures and killed Palestinians including 7000 children so far. Israel attacked and besieged hospitals where they alleged the Hamas hideouts and tunnel shafts. The intensity of the war is crazy and the whole of Gaza is mired in chaos, destruction and inhumane and discriminatory killings of the people. There is no endgame to this conflict and talking of warring parties mediated by Qatar, Egypt and America did not achieve a substantial change in the mood and restraint of violence. Now Hamas is believed to have 135 hostages and it wants Israel to reciprocate by exchanging Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Both sides are alleged to have mistreated each other’s captives.
The international community desired to see the war to stop. The United Nations warned of a humanitarian catastrophe engulfing the Gaza Strip. Enmity is deeply entrenched between Israel and Palestine. There is no sign of it withering away. Global civil society actors also called for an end to violence and restart dialogue and ensure human rights and dignity of both citizens of Israel and Palestine as always. Critics of this long-running violence and supporters of peace did not stay back. They voiced their concerns outside West Asia and across the world.
An uncomfortable position in this crisis-ridden region despite the calls to establish a two-state solution is no takers in the Israeli government and Palestinian sectarian groups. The only way to resolve this problem is a diplomatic undertaking to extirpate mistrust, insecurity and revenge on both sides. In this regard, great powers in the region and the international community at large must forge a consensus that violence never gets repeated and follow the UN resolutions to end this war. As Modi quipped about Russia’s Ukraine War, waging war is outdated in the 21st century applies to this conflict too.
Global public opinion vigilant on international news and interconnected world bespeak that peace prevails where justice leads and democratic norms democratize power politics. The shared responsibility of international actors and the maturity or prudence of parties in this conflict is a signpost to put order and security amid disorder and anarchy. Israel has a democratic edge and to compete or emulate it is not only a daunting challenge but also an existential imperative of West Asia in the future. The conflict is intrinsic to the framework of democracy, secularism and inclusion as it is evident in other parts of the world where political conflict has an inherent salient feature, a legacy of long years in political history.
As of writing, war and fighting entered the 63rd day. It has spread to the turf of the Gaza Strip and Palestinian civilians and minors are fleeing where there is a safe refuge. European Foreign and Security Policy Chief Joseph Borrell in his visit to Israel remarked that Israel should not be consumed by the rage of an onset of this conflict since October 7. In the world news, it preoccupies headlines as it happened in the past. A polarized debate recurs in the quest for justice and truth. But ending this conflict is nowhere to be seen.
Unless a political framework does not function well, searching for foes in the regional neighborhood adds nothing. There are agendas of identity, reconstruction and reforms needed to arrest the dynamics of regional and global forces. But this can be assured if the political will is towards reconciliation and rejuvenation for justice and liberty. Israel-Palestine as an international case, both parties to the conflict must sit on the table and resolve problems amicably to the enlightened interests of their people. The outsiders can only push both to restrain violence and restart conversation, securing their future and not becoming the captive of the specter of the past or history. Only we can hope is both sides preserve the sanctity of human rights or the right to be human first. It would be apt to say humanity must triumph when darkness forces in human affairs. War must stop giving peace a chance. Is nonflict instead of conflict prevailing, needing to listen to each other and to resolving the conflict once and for all?
