Caught in the Crossfire: Human Cost of Hamas-Israel Conflict
22:11 02.11.2023 (Updated: 13:32 01.12.2023)
© AP Photo / Ben Curtis
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The conflict between Hamas and Israel is pushing the Middle East towards quagmire, the culture of war-crime practices, regional unstability, and is creating vacuum for another Arab-Israel tussle.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian movement Hamas has brought to light the harsh reality that the impoverished are the ones who bear the brunt of rich people's acts of war in the epoch of vested national interest, regional and global politics. It's important to remember that the real people caught in the crossfire are not the ones making headlines, even while the world stares in horror at the destruction and deaths. Both sides are adamant that they are correct and have been fighting for a very long time for the noble cause. Unfortunately, the ultimate cost of this never-ending cycle of violence is being borne by innocent bystanders. Families and towns are being destroyed, and innocent children are dying.
As a result, the resilience of the Palestinian and Gazan poor serves as a monument to the human spirit's unwavering strength in the face of adversity. However, in the twenty-first century, it casts doubt on international organizations that present themselves as defenders of human rights, international peace, and international order and stability, such as the United Nations, Amnesty International, the International Court of Justice, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the European Union, and the Organization of Islamic Countries, but failed to bring peace in the world either it is Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, Yeman, Iraq, or Palestine.
The global peace keepers have become failed. Ironically, the current development in the shape of Hamas and Israel clash is proved that the epoch of moral decay has been started. Genocide and humanitarian disasters are just two instances of the moral decay that the world is currently experiencing.
This image grab from an AFP TV footage shows balls of fire and smoke rising above Gaza City during an Israeli strike on October 27, 2023, as battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement continue
© AFP 2023 YOUSEF HASSOUNA
After the occurrence of the attack on Israel with 5000 thousand rocket missiles launched by Hamas wing Al Qassam brigade on October 7, known as the "AL Aqsa Flood operation", the Israeli defense force is reportedly showing no pity for anyone, whether it is women, children, the elderly population, the disabled, or others.
One Palestinian social activist told the Palestine Wafaa news agency: “We don’t know what our ancestors did in the past, but we are compelled to pay the price for it in the form of bloodshed, genocide, and suffering."
He lamented that the Israeli army is refusing to leave the Jabalya refugee camp or the hospitals to provide aid to the needy or medical attention to the injured.
As the Israeli-Palestinian conflict approaches its 25th day, the Gaza Health Ministry stated that over 8,000 Palestinians, including women, the elderly, and children, had lost their lives. The price is higher than it was throughout the protracted Israeli-Palestinian war. Most of the 1,400 or so Israeli casualties were in the first strike, which was against civilian objectives. Because of a shortage of resources, continuous Israeli bombardment, and the widespread use of donkey carts to transport the injured, a hospital in Gaza is in "worse and worse" condition. The bombing assault in northern Gaza and Gaza City persisted during the night, with a primary concentration on the beach camp and the west side of Gaza City.
The Palestine Wafaa News Agency uncovered that bombs were dropped on various areas of the camp for refugees. Many people were hurt and lost their lives. Shifa Hospital's situation appears to be getting worse all the time. Some individuals think that people are starting to starve because there is also a blockage on the internet, electricity, and food.
In the Gaza Strip's center and southern regions, the situation is comparable. We have not heard of any cessation of the nocturnal fighting or bombardment. Furthermore, many sources report that Israeli troops detained 66 Palestinians on Wednesday during raids at their homes in the Palestinian territories. The Israeli ground invasion of Gaza has worsened the already dire situation in the Palestinian enclave. The severe use of military force puts the region in danger in addition to the worsening humanitarian crisis.
Despite all this, at the peak of injustice, cruelty, and barbarism, one sees the attitude of the US and its president, Joe Biden, who, on one side, visited Israel at the midpoint of the war and sent extra military support and foreign aid to Israel, while on the other, vetoed the resolution of the ‘humanitarian pause’ in the form of calling a ceasefire. One of the Pakistan-based journalists and writers, Zahid Hussian, said, “It is a complete genocide of the people of Palestine done with zero mercy by the Israeli defense army. Israel, despite committing war crimes, cannot dare say anything because saying anything against Israel means challenging the mad elephant (USA). While protest rallies are sweeping across the globe, Western countries have remained steadfast in their backing for Israel’s war crimes. "The theater of conflict is expanding with the Israeli bombing of Lebanon and Syria and the extension of military action to the West Bank. “The ongoing Israeli war in Gaza has compounded the predicament of the Arab countries.” Zahid Hussian is a Pakistan-based journalist and writer.
The Root of This Prolonged Bottleneck
The conflict between Israel and Palestine is complex and has persisted for many years. Tensions with the local Arab community have resulted from the presence of Jews, exacerbating an issue that has existed since the Ottoman Empire. Britain's Foreign Secretary, Arthur Balfour, announced in 1917 that his country supported the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine. This quote played a key role in laying the groundwork for the war between Israel and Palestine. Following World War I, the British Mandate for Palestine—which included the proclamation—was granted by the Allies to Britain as an administrative territory over Palestine. Tensions and conflicts between Jewish settlers and the local Arab community worsened as a result of increased Jewish immigration in response to this mandate. The opposing national interests and claims to the same area between Israel and the Palestinians are the root of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Balfour Declaration's backing of the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine gave Jewish ambitions in Palestine respect and support on a global scale. But this disagreement has been exacerbated and made more complex by a much wider historical problem of which the Balfour Declaration is only a small aspect. For centuries, the Ottoman Empire included the area that is now Israel and the Palestinian territories as part of its territory. It was governed by the British after World War I and became a League of Nations mission. In the decades-long struggle between Israel and Palestine, there have been many battles, revolutions, and peace negotiations. It is imperative to comprehend the intricate historical, political, and cultural aspects of a topic that has been and remains a contentious problem. The UN's 1947 partition plan was accepted by Jewish leaders, but Arab states and the Palestinians did not. Consequently, Israel went to war with its Arab neighbors and proclaimed its independence in 1948. The conflict resulted in the Palestinians being driven from their homes and becoming refugees. Israel won the Golan Heights, Gaza Strip, West Bank, and East Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War; these areas have been under Israeli occupation and dispute ever since. The erratic political environment in the region has been largely attributed to Israeli settlement development in the occupied territories. One such attempt at peace talks was the Oslo Accords in the 1990s, although progress toward its goal has been sluggish. Because of the conflict, both Israelis and Palestinians have experienced violence, fatalities, and economic hardship.
Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, left, and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat shake hands marking the signing of the peace accord between Israel and the Palestinians, in Washington, Sept. 13, 1993.
© AP Photo / RON EDMONDS
The international community has assisted in the search for a peaceful resolution, but no appropriate one has been discovered so far. At the core of the conflict are Palestinian aspirations for an independent state and Israeli worries about its protection. A two-state solution, in which Israel and Palestine each have their own government, has been discussed; however, there are a number of obstacles in the road.
On November 29, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution endorsing a proposal to partition Palestine into autonomous Arab and Jewish administrations, with Jerusalem falling under international supervision. The plan giving them 56 percent of the land was approved by the Jewish leadership in Palestine. The plan was rejected by the Arab League. Israel was founded by Israeli founding father David Ben-Gurion on May 14, 1948, as a safe haven for Jews seeking a national home on land they claim has ancient historical roots. The next day, Israeli forces were attacked by the armed forces of five Arab states.
Palestinians call the creation of Israel the Nakba, or tragedy, because they believe it caused their people to be expelled and stopped them from being independent. Israel disputes the claims that it drove Palestinians out of their villages. About 700,000 Arabs, or half of the population living in British-controlled Palestine, were forced to leave their homes during the ensuing fighting and eventually made their way to Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem as well as Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. An armistice agreement ended hostilities in 1949, although no official peace treaty was signed. About 20% of Israelis today may trace their genealogy to Palestinians who stayed in the country throughout the conflict.
Israel launched its initial attacks on Egypt and Syria in 1967, sparking the Six-Day War. The Golan Heights were taken from Syria, the Gaza Strip was taken from Egypt, and the West Bank and Arab East of Jerusalem were taken from Jordan. At least 60% of the 394,000 residents of Gaza at the time of the Israeli census were Palestinian refugees or their descendants. Egypt and Syria launched an unexpected attack on Israeli positions around the Suez Canal and the Golan Heights in 1973, sparking the start of the Yom Kippur War. Israel drove back both armies in three weeks. In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew its soldiers and citizens from Gaza. However, since 2006, there have been numerous outbreaks of conflict in Gaza, including in 2008, 2012, 2014, and 2021. Following Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982, thousands of Palestinian fighters under the command of Yasser Arafat were evacuated by water after a 10-week siege. Israel pulled its troops out of Lebanon in 2000. Israel launched an airstrike against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon in 2006 following their abduction of two soldiers in the volatile border area. This led to a six-week conflict.
Two Palestinian intifadas, or uprisings, have occurred in addition to wars: from 1987 to 1993 and from 2000 to 2005. In the second, Israeli cities were targeted by suicide bombers from Hamas, to which Israel retaliated with airstrikes and tanks.
Egypt and Israel established a peace pact in 1979. The Oslo Accords, which gave the Palestinians a degree of self-government, were signed in 1993 by Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and Yitzhak Rabin, the prime minister of Israel. In 1994, Israel and Jordan signed a deal to bring about peace. There was no legally binding peace deal produced from the 2000 Camp David meeting, which featured Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, US President Clinton, and Arafat. In 2002, the Arab League put up a plan that called for Israel to withdraw from all of the territory it had conquered during the Middle East War of 1967, the creation of a Palestinian state, and a "just solution" for the Palestinian refugee problem in exchange for diplomatic ties with all Arab states. The plan's announcement was overshadowed by Hamas's bombing of an Israeli hotel during a Passover seder attended by Holocaust survivors.
There have been no more attempts at peace between Israel and the Palestinians since the 2014 breakdown of talks in Washington. Due to President Trump's administration's rejection of the two-state solution, a peace proposal that advocates for the establishment of a Palestinian state on territory that Israel captured in 1967, Palestinians ceased doing business with the United States between 2017 and 2019. The administration of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has made normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the custodians of the two holiest sites in Islam, a primary goal as it attempts to strike a "grand bargain" in the Middle East. This latest fight has put Riyadh and other Arab states, especially several Gulf Arab states that border Saudi Arabia, in an untenable diplomatic position because they have signed peace treaties with Israel. The main points of contention include a two-state solution, Israeli settlements on occupied land, Jerusalem's status, negotiated borders, and the treatment of Palestinian refugees.
Авиаудар израильских ВС по сектору Газа
© AP Photo / Ariel Schalit
Historical development and Question of Two-state solution
A pact that would, in cooperation with Israel, establish Palestinian authority over the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip to protect itself, Israel has maintained that any future state ruled by Palestinians must be totally disarmed. Most countries consider Jewish communities founded on land Israel acquired in 1967 to be illegal. Israel vehemently disagrees, citing its historical and biblical links to the region. One of the most contentious issues between Israel, the Palestinians, and the international community is the latter's ongoing settlement expansion. The goal of the Palestinians is to make East Jerusalem the capital of their country so that they can have access to the places that are sacred to Muslims, Jews, and Christians inside the old city walls. Jerusalem, according to Israel, has to be kept as its "indivisible and eternal" capital. International consensus does not recognize Israel's claim to the eastern part of Jerusalem. In 2018, Trump moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and proclaimed Jerusalem the capital of Israel, without specifying the extent of Israeli authority over the city. Today, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and Gaza are home to nearly 5.6 million Palestinian refugees, the majority of whom are the offspring of those who left in 1948. In overcrowded camps, about half of all refugees remain stateless, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Palestinians have maintained for decades that millions of children born to refugees should be permitted to return home. Israel maintains that it will never permit Palestinian refugees to reside inside its borders.
Numerous significant occasions and attempts at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have occurred. The second intifada was sparked by Ariel Sharon's visit to Al-Haram Al-Sharif in 2000. A later decision by the International Court of Justice declared Israel's separation wall in the West Bank to be unlawful.
The process of establishing a two-state agreement accelerated. A two-state solution was supported by the Security Council and the Arab Peace Initiative in 2002. The US, EU, Russia, and UN produced a Road Map towards a two-state settlement in 2003. In Geneva that same year, Israelis and Palestinians jointly proposed an unofficial peace agreement. Although Israel withdrew its armed forces and settlements from Gaza in 2005, it kept control of the region's borders, coastline, and airspace. Following the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, the Quartet demanded that before further assistance was given, the Palestinian Authority (PA) must show nonviolence, acknowledge Israel, and adhere to previous agreements. Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza in 2007 following Hamas' takeover of the region.
The peace negotiations under the Annapolis Process resumed in 2007–2008, but no durable agreement was reached. Following the Gaza conflict in late 2008, an inquiry was opened into possible breaches of international law. With the aid of foreign donors, the PA was able to establish state institutions in 2009. 2010 saw the expiration of a prohibition on Israeli settlement expansion, and negotiations broke down. Palestine filed an application to become a member of UNESCO and the UN in 2011. Palestine joined the United Nations as a non-member observer state in 2012 and took part in exploratory talks. 2014 saw yet another round of warfare between Israel and Gaza. The Security Council passed a resolution about settlements in 2016.
The US moved its embassy to Jerusalem in 2017 after formally recognizing it as Israel's capital. The Abraham Accords, which were negotiated by the US in 2020, were agreements between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, the Sudan, and Morocco. In 2022, the UN General Assembly asked the International Court of Justice for an Advisory Opinion about the validity of Israel's ongoing occupation that began in 1967. In 2023, Israel and Hamas resumed hostilities. On May 15, the United Nations officially acknowledged the 75th anniversary of the Nakba. There was another uptick in tensions between Israel and Gaza in October 2023.
These occurrences highlight the multifaceted and ongoing nature of the Israeli-Palestinian skirmish, with various attempts at peace and repeated bouts of violence.
A woman sits amid the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on October 21, 2023.
© AFP 2023 SAID KHATIB
International Response: Middle East Chessboard and Great Global Politics
Decades have passed since the Israeli-Palestinian conflict began, but the international community has taken a callous and impersonal stance toward the situation. Diplomatic initiatives include the Annapolis process, the Arab Peace Initiative, and the Quartet's Road Map to a Two-State Solution. The International Court of Justice has questioned Israel's actions in the occupied areas, and the UN has passed resolutions denouncing violence and calling for a peaceful resolution. To name a few nations that have taken part in mediation efforts include the US, Egypt, and Norway. The Palestinians have benefited from nothing the international community has done thus far. Quagmire is a night dream or a pipe dream. Each time, after such conflict, international community seems helpless or not interested in the solution of Middle East crisis.
The United Nations and other international organizations have consistently called for an end to hostilities and a resumption of peace negotiations in reaction to violent outbursts. Humanitarian aid programs have also started in order to help those in need who have suffered harm as a result of the war, particularly in Gaza. But there are some great powers that are very interested in Middle East politics and ensuring prolonged Israel-Palestine conflict. They have national and geo-strategic interests. Like the USA and some European countries, they back and support Israel, while Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey, and some other countries directly and indirectly support and back Palestine and its cause.
Similarly, in ongoing conflict, various countries condemned the attack by Hamas on Israel. The USA and some of the European Union’s countries started supporting Israel in the retaliation part. In the retaliation by Israel, the Israeli Army killed more than 8,000 Palestinians. In this case, there is no condemnation yet called, neither by the USA nor by the European Union. Only some Muslim countries, along with Russia and China, condemn this brutal retaliation against Israel. Moreover, there was a humanitarian-based ceasefire called for in the UNSC offices, but the USA and some European Union countries vetoed and rejected this call.
Nevertheless, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not just a domestic issue; it threatens regional peace and stability. Tense relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors and regional conflicts like the Syrian civil war can be traced back to this battle. The wider Arab-Israeli conflict and prospects for peace and stability in the Middle East are also affected by the conflict. There are many ways in which the conflict has an effect on the countries nearby. The continuous embargo of Gaza has had a huge impact on Egypt, which shares a border with Gaza. The inflow of Palestinian refugees into Jordan is just one example of how the country has felt the effects of the conflict.
However, the conflict between Israel and Hamas in 2023 serves as an example of how regional crises can be influenced by global politics. Ideological disagreements, geopolitical concerns, and regional power struggles are only a few of the factors that have affected the conflict. The deployment of additional regional and foreign armies has complicated the war. The fact that nations like Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye have all backed opposite sides in the crisis is indicative of the power struggles within the region. The United States and other global powers have actively involved in efforts to settle the conflict because of their strategic interests in the region. Along with more general issues like Israeli settlements and Palestinian statehood, the conflict is also fueled by ideological differences between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. These features resemble international conversations over nationalism, autonomy, and human rights. The conflict between Palestine and Hamas in 2023 serves as an overall example of the complex interaction between domestic politics and global forces. It emphasizes how crucial it is to have a coordinated international response that considers the conflict's local and global contexts.
Wounded Palestinians Ahli Arab hospital at the al-Shifa hospital, following Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City, central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023
© AP Photo / Abed Khaled
Prospects for Resolution
The conflict between Palestine and Israel is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach for a long-term resolution. Here are some potential avenues for de-escalation and resolution:
Dialogue and Negotiations: Both sides need to engage in meaningful dialogue and negotiations to address the underlying issues and grievances. This can involve direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, as well as mediated discussions facilitated by international actors.
International Mediation: The involvement of neutral third-party mediators can help facilitate negotiations and bridge the gap between the two sides. International organizations such as the United Nations, regional bodies, or respected individuals can play a crucial role in mediating the conflict.
Addressing Root Causes: It is essential to address the root causes of the conflict, including issues of land, borders, settlements, and the status of Jerusalem. Finding mutually acceptable solutions to these core issues is crucial for sustainable peace.
Humanitarian Assistance: Immediate humanitarian assistance should be provided to alleviate the suffering of civilians affected by the conflict. This includes access to essential services such as healthcare, food, water, and shelter.
Confidence-Building Measures: Confidence-building measures can help create an atmosphere of trust and goodwill between the parties involved. This can include prisoner exchanges, easing restrictions on movement and access, and implementing measures to protect civilians.
International Pressure: The international community should exert pressure on both parties to cease hostilities and engage in peaceful negotiations. This can involve diplomatic efforts, economic sanctions, or other forms of leverage to encourage cooperation. If possible, demilitarized both countries for short time with the surveillance of international organization. It is important to note that resolving this conflict will require a long-term commitment from all parties involved. The path to peace may be challenging, but with sustained efforts and a genuine commitment to finding a just and lasting solution, there is hope for resolution.
Conclusion
The terrible truth that the poor bear the burden of the rich's wartime acts is brought to light by the current conflict between Israel and Hamas. This is especially true in an era of global politics and vested national interests. Accidents are destroying towns and families, and children are dying. The impoverished people of Gaza and Palestine serve as a real example of the human spirit's ability to endure extreme hardship. But in the twenty-first century, it calls into question the efficacy of global institutions such as the United Nations, Amnesty International, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the European Union (EU), and the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), which tout their achievements in promoting international order and stability, human rights, and peace, but which have fallen short in bringing about lasting peace in regions like Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, and Kaliningrad.
The war has cost both sides a great deal in terms of losses. The Gaza Health Ministry estimated that over 8,000 Palestinians, including women, the elderly, and children, had died. Most of the 1,400 Israeli casualties were from the initial onslaught, which was aimed at civilian objectives. With an emphasis on the beach camp and the western side of the city, the nighttime bombing campaign in northern Gaza and the city of Gaza persisted.
However, in the midst of all of this injustice, brutality, and barbarism, one must also consider the position taken by the United States and its president, Joe Biden, who visited Israel during the war and sent more military hardware and foreign aid to the country while vetoing the resolution that would have called for a ceasefire. The conflict between Israel and Hamas is resulting in a humanitarian crisis. The time has come for the international community to step up and resolve this conflict in a constructive manner. Everyone ought to be able to live in Israel and Gaza without worrying about being attacked or subjected to persecution. Everyone's participation is necessary to put an end to this violence. As we mourn the lives lost and pray for those affected by this war, let us keep in mind that we all have a role to play in promoting peace and understanding. All people need us to join together and support them in achieving a brighter future, regardless of their origins, race, or religion. We cannot get stability, peace, wealth, and connectedness in any other manner.
All in all, it is nicely said “An eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind.”
