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Breaking Down the Middle East Crisis

Pulakit Bararia

photo credit: AP


The Israeli crisis is primarily around territorial disputes. The area that is now Israel, the West Bank and Gaza was the home of both Jews and Arabs for centuries. After World War 2 in 1948, the creation of Israel as a Jewish country led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian arab


throughout the years, there have been multiple wars, uprisings, and peace attempts, but none of these showed any success.


2022, Tensions build

In 2022, the coalition government made by Naftali Benett collapsed and former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to power. Netanyahu's government vowed to expand settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law.


At the same time the power struggle between Fatah, which controls the West Bank and Hamas, which controls Gaza. Hamas was a terrorist organisation in Israel. The US and other Western nations supported Israel, while Gaza was strained by a blockade between Israel and Egypt

Violence increased significantly in the West Bank in the midst of 2022. Israel launched several attacks and raids to arrest several militants increasing the number of Palestinian casualties. The number of Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians increased during this period. Tensions increased in cities like Jerusalem


2023, Tensions Intensifies

During January 2023, the conflict reached a more dangerous and brutal phase, which resulted in the most violent period in the West Bank in decades. There were increasing number of civilian casualties and destruction in life and property


In April 2023, a significant event occurred. A militant group in Gaza launched a large barrage of rockets into Israel, some reaching deep into cities that had been relatively untouched in previous conflicts. Israel responded with airstrikes targeting Hamas infrastructure. For weeks this compact continued, both sides in no position to step down


The UN woke up from sleep and asked for restraint, but the conflict had reached a much-advanced phase. If the UN had cut the source of the conflict it would not have become much deadlier. The biggest sufferers were the civilians, they were the most affected in terms of life and property, while the two kings quarrelled over a chess game, the pawns were the ones who got affected.


Mid-2023, Damage upon Damage

West Bank was the most unstable it had ever been. Israel launched a massive military operation in Jenin. a city in the northern West Bank. This was in response to a series of attacks by Palestinian militants. Israeli forces used airstrikes, a rare occurrence in the West Bank, to target militant hideouts, but these strikes also hit civilian areas. Dozens of Palestinians were killed, and hundreds were displaced.


Meanwhile, inside Israel, the unfair government policies led to tensions between Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel. tensions led to massive protests in the country resulting in a civil war situation. Israel was now fighting two wars. One from the outside world and One from itself.


2024, Iran’s Revenge arc

Iran is a key supporter of Palestinian militant groups, particularly Hamas and Islamic Jihad, providing them with financial aid, weapons, and training.


Iran’s missile strikes on Israel on October 1 have escalated in Middle Eastern warThe escalation started when Israel attacked Hezbollah’s communication network in Lebanon on September 17–18, followed by airstrikes and the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on September 27. Despite the setback, Hezbollah continued its attacks on Israel. In retaliation, Iran launched 200 ballistic missiles, further escalating the violence. (Source: The Hindu)


Failure of United Nation

The Middle Eastern conflict along with the Russian and Ukrainian war was an example of UN failure which was initially made to prevent wars and revolts between countries. UN intervened after the Middle East war advanced, which made it very difficult to solve the crisis. United Nations Sanctution made no effect in the solving of war.

 
 

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