Gaza-Israel War: Role of Muslim and Western World
In the Middle East, it is clear that peace will never be reached without solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A two-state solution must be found and enforced.” Ahmed Zewail
In early October 2023, conflict erupted between Israel and Hamas, marking a significant escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The surprise attack by Hamas led to casualties on both sides, prompting Israel to declare war and impose a complete siege on Gaza. Subsequent events include daily rocket exchanges, a ground invasion, and the encirclement of Gaza City. The war has resulted in a substantial number of casualties and severe humanitarian challenges, with many Gazans facing displacement and limited resources. Regional concerns, particularly for Egypt and Jordan, add complexity to the situation, as they grapple with the dilemma of accepting displaced Palestinians. Current negotiations have seen only a fraction of Gazans able to exit, leaving the majority facing dire conditions and security risks.
Background
The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has deep historical roots, evolving during the late 19th and early 20th centuries amid the decline of the Ottoman Empire. After World War I, the League of Nations granted Britain a mandate to govern Palestine. In 1947, the UN proposed a partition plan for separate Jewish and Arab states. While Jewish leaders accepted it, Arab leaders rejected it, sparking the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Israel declared independence, and neighboring Arab states intervened, resulting in territorial changes. The aftermath left Israel with more land than initially allocated by the UN, and issues like the status of Palestinian refugees became central. Subsequent conflicts, wars, and peace processes have influenced the region, with ongoing disputes over borders, refugees, and the status of Jerusalem. The Gaza Strip, under Hamas control since 2007, has been a focal point for conflict, marked by periodic escalations involving rocket attacks from Gaza and Israeli military responses, contributing to the enduring complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Current Scenario
Violence between Israel and Hamas resumed after a weeklong cease-fire in late November, with Israel expanding its ground offensive to cover the entire Gaza Strip on December 3. Around 80 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have fled their homes. UN estimates indicate many face nowhere safe to go. Operations in Gaza have caused significant collateral damage, with reports of Hamas positioning itself within civilian infrastructure. The densely populated cities’ basic supplies and healthcare facilities are severely impacted. The US is engaging in shuttle diplomacy amid regional tensions, including rocket exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah, strikes on alleged Iran-linked targets in Syria, and attacks on US military positions by Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria. Yemen’s Houthi rebels have launched missiles at Israel and Red Sea ships.
Role of Western and Muslim World in the War
A prolonged confrontation in Gaza and the role of the Western world is incontrovertible in its support of Israel in the ongoing Gaza conflict. The conflict originated with the Israeli withdrawal of Gaza in 2005. After Hamas attack on October 7, the heads of governments of France, the United States, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Greece and the Netherlands have taken turns standing beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He expressed, “It is necessary to make a cultural change in Gaza similar to the change that occurred in Germany and Japan.” The United States and Biden’s administration has offered strong support to Israel in its war against the Hamas militants group that rules the Gaza strip.
The Gaza-Israel conflict highlights the crucial role of both the Muslim and Western world in determining the region’s future.
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The tremendous destruction in Gaza caused by Israeli airstrikes proved to be a turning point in the larger discourse on terrorism, militancy, and extremism in Muslim societies. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 17,487 Palestinians have been killed including children and women since then. The Israel-Gaza conflict involves a longstanding political and territorial dispute. Tensions often escalate into violent clashes, with Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza engaging in periodic conflicts. The root causes include historical grievances, competing national aspirations, and differing interpretations of borders. The UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres denoted, “I’ve delivered a letter to the President of the Security Council invoking Article 99 of UN Charter, it’s related to any matter in my opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security. I appeal to a humanitarian ceasefire to be declared in Gaza.” Arab and Muslim leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, convened an unprecedented joint summit condemning Israel’s war in Gaza. They called for an immediate ceasefire, lifting the Gaza siege, rejecting forced displacement of Palestinians, and urged an end to arms exports to Israel. The leaders emphasized the need for a renewed peace process for establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
The role of the Muslim and Western world in the Gaza-Israel war is significant in shaping international responses.
Egypt
Egypt is concerned about the potential mass displacement of Palestinians from Gaza to the Sinai Peninsula due to the conflict with Israel. Cairo fears a repeat of historical patterns where displaced Palestinians may not be allowed to return, placing the burden on Egypt. Security concerns in Sinai, including jihadist activity, further contribute to Egypt’s reluctance. The country seeks to address these issues through humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza and opposing an Israeli ground invasion. Egypt is also involved in negotiations related to hostages taken by Hamas. The conflict presents Cairo with opportunities to extract concessions for economic relief from creditors and regional partners.
Jordan
Jordanians are outraged by Israel’s assault on Gaza, fearing it could lead to the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank. Jordan’s leadership denies reports of aiding Israel and emphasizes its commitment to a two-state solution. Concerns include potential economic ruin and destabilization if Jordan becomes the de facto Palestinian state. The situation also raises worries about Jordan’s role as custodian of Jerusalem’s holy sites.
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As the Gaza-Israel conflict escalates, the role of Muslim and Western leaders becomes even more critical in pursuing peace.
Turkey
Ankara engaged in diplomatic efforts after the 7 October attacks, initially urging de-escalation. However, as Israel’s campaign intensified, Turkey criticized it as disproportionate. This has strained Turkish-Israeli relations, impacting efforts to normalize ties and a joint gas pipeline project. The conflict also complicates Turkey’s relations with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Turkey’s non-designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization and historical ties may hinder its mediation role. The war further strains Turkey’s relations with the U.S. and the EU, particularly over differing perspectives on Hamas and Israel’s actions.
Iran
Iran, despite denying direct involvement in the October 7 Hamas attacks, benefits from the crisis by leveraging criticism against Israel and the U.S. It faces a dilemma with potential risks: losing credibility if it doesn’t intervene or risking a significant blow to its strategic assets if it encourages allies to escalate. The conflict challenges Iran’s longstanding forward-defense policy, pushing it towards the entanglements it aimed to avoid.
The ongoing Gaza-Israel conflict underscores the role of the Muslim and Western world in mediating peace efforts.
Way Forward
U.N. officials acknowledge 1.9 million people as 85 percent of Gaza’s population are displaced and describe the conditions in the southern areas where they have concentrated as devilish. To promote stability, international pressure on Israel to stop settlements, ease restrictions, and support Palestinian aid with conditions can help mitigate the crisis through the mediating role of the Middle East and the Western world. Muslim world, with the assistance of the Organisation of Islamic Conference, can promote peace and ceasefire the war immediately by being united; otherwise, it’s today ‘Palestine’ and tomorrow it might be any other Islamic nation. Hence, all the Islamic nations must be integrated so, no one can break them.
As the Muslim world takes up the Palestinian cause, Israel’s ally, the US, is observed as biased, which affects its role in the Gaza-Israel situation. The Muslim and Western world must actively participate to ensure stability and peace. China, meanwhile, has avoided apportioning blame and reiterated support for a two-state solution.
Sahibzada Sultan Muhammad Bahoo