Israel has outlined plans for the post-Hamas Gaza Strip Administration. It wants total security to be ensured. Israel in this plan has proposed the Palestinian Authority to take charge of the territory with a multinational force to rebuild the territory. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant added that Israel would retain the right to operate militarily in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has often refrained from giving a clear outline for post-war Gaza. Netanyahu has earlier said that neither Hamas nor Fatah, which currently controls the West Bank, rule the Gaza enclave. Netanyahu foresees this war for many months to continue until Hamas is extirpated. Even Lebanon and Syria came under attack from Israel in its pursuit of militant groups. On the other hand, Arab and Muslim countries have also been reluctant to take political control over Gaza after the ongoing war. The post-conflict aftermath plans are revealed with Israeli discretion on Palestinian affairs. Its response is few takers it seems.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is undertaking his fifth West Asian diplomatic tour. Blinken is visiting to shore up efforts to bring peace, stability and security in favor of American allies and interests in the region. America wants the remaining hostages controlled by Hamas to be released, humanitarian corridors to open and ensure Israel-Hamas war does not spread in the neighborhood. There is a spate of violence conducted by militant groups in the Red Sea. Since November 19, there have been 27 attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen in support of Hamas in the Red Sea. Houthi rebels have been targeting ships in the maritime routes. The US and UK have jointly launched air strikes against them. There is a fleet of 10 Indian Navy currently after it has successfully conducted commando operations against piracy attacks against its ships in the region. The region is getting tense in strategic, military and diplomatic terms to grapple with this burning conflict.
Nearing 100 days of war which had started on October 7, 2023, the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza bespeaks human catastrophe at its climax. Gaza stands fallen from heavy bombardment by Israeli airstrikes and expansive ground operations from the north towards the south via the central Gaza Strip. Already isolated from the Gaza enclave from Israeli Military enclosures to access the sea, the Israeli Military destroyed underground tunnel shafts used by the militant group Hamas. Israel says human shields of its hideouts in civilian infrastructure like hospitals are the target of its operation. So far 23000 Palestinians have been killed, 60000 were wounded and mostly women and children have been the victims of this brutal warfare. Nearly 85 percent of 2.3 million Gazans are displaced from the Strip. United Nations Humanitarian Agencies urge the safe corridor to supply essential goods for human security in Gaza. In this war, more than 100 Palestinian sportspersons, journalists, poets and artists were killed. On the Israeli side, around 1200 died with 180 soldiers killed in the ongoing military operation while out of 240 hostages held by Hamas, 110 have been released so far in 7 day truce during the interlude in this conflict with 25 dead and at least 125 still captive. Palestinians in exchange mostly teenagers and women inmates released from Israeli jails. Israel has also attacked Hamas hideouts in the West Bank. Killings, violence and continued military strikes are feature news on international cable channels.
Of late, South Africa has filed an 84-page document in the Hague arguing Israel has violated the 1948 genocide convention. The Convention was established in the aftermath of the Holocaust. It mandates all countries to prevent the recurrence of such crimes against humanity. The rulings would stop Israel’s war on Gaza by January end. However, Israel may flout its non-binding verdict. But it can set an additional intriguing verdict on international law.
There are demonstrations about this war episode in major cities across the world. And it has cost two Presidents of Ivy League Universities of Pennsylvania and Harvard in the matters of the exercise of the freedom of expression on academic premises. America is disquieted by the Israeli military’s indiscriminate killings of civilians in Gaza despite its support to exterminate terrorist outfits that assaulted rockets into Israel in surprise attacks on October 7. Violence begets violence and Israel-Palestine has to choose the way of peace to live and let live dictum. Both have to abjure violence and stay on the course of the two-state solution. Time and again this unequivocal position of the international community is expressed at the United Nations General Assembly. Until or unless, peaceful coexistence is acknowledged, Israel and Palestine will remain with an elusive peace in West Asia. Circumstances and international opinion desire to see this long-running conflict to end. Whatever criticisms and counter-allegation, the reality is to live in peace and harmony.
