The Middle East is currently facing the greatest threat of war. Recently, Lebanon launched the largest attack on Israel to date, targeting significant Israeli sites with rockets. In response, Israel claims to have targeted 400 launchers belonging to Hezbollah. In light of the Israeli attacks on Lebanon, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that Lebanon must not be allowed to become another Gaza and emphasized the need for a ceasefire.
At this moment, the Middle East is indeed facing the gravest risk of conflict. Israel’s attack on Lebanon is considered one of the worst attempts to incite instability in the region. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has already stated that the focus of the war is shifting northward, with resources being allocated accordingly. While indicating the opening of a new front in Lebanon, the minister also expressed Israel’s intent to not conclude the war in Gaza, declaring that the military has not forgotten its objectives there.
In addition to Gallant, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Chief of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, have made separate statements reflecting similar intentions. Israel shares a border with Lebanon, and these statements from three top Israeli leaders indicate that Israel is now formally intending to start a war in Lebanon, primarily targeting Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed organization that frequently clashes with Israel.
Although Israel has not officially declared war, these statements come at a time when technology has been used to target Hezbollah in the past four days. Just last Tuesday, a series of explosions linked to Hezbollah’s pager systems shook the entire country, resulting in at least 12 deaths and around 2,800 injuries.
As the reverberations of these explosions continued, there were further detonations on Wednesday involving walkie-talkies and radio devices used by Hezbollah members, killing 14 people and injuring over 450. Defense and military experts believe that Israel is involved in these explosions. Additionally, due to the actions of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Ansar Allah, Israel faces significant resistance on both internal and external fronts.
In the ruins of Palestine, the spirit of martyrdom among Hamas’s youth and Hezbollah’s involvement in the current war supporting Palestinians have further intensified the situation. On the other hand, U.S. presidential candidate Kamala Harris cannot compel Netanyahu to retreat merely through strong words; the real pressure on Netanyahu would come from actions such as halting U.S. weapons and financial aid.
Netanyahu has already stated that it does not matter who the U.S. president is. Israel will remain the strongest ally of the U.S. in the Middle East. Israel believes the U.S. needs it because of its presence in the region, which is critical for fulfilling various needs. Netanyahu has expressed gratitude to President Joe Biden for his support of Israel.
Recently, the UN General Assembly, with the support of 124 countries including Pakistan, passed a resolution demanding Israel end its “illegal presence” in Gaza and the occupied West Bank within one year. The vote saw 124 in favor and only 14 against, with 43 countries abstaining, including the U.S. and Israel. The resolution orders Israel to vacate the occupied Palestinian territories within a year; however, analysts note that its non-binding nature implies that despite the large majority, there will likely be no significant change in the current situation.
This marks the first time in UN history that Palestine presented a resolution draft for a vote in the 193-member General Assembly, which was passed by a substantial majority. The resolution also calls for imposing sanctions on Israel for failing to comply.
This resolution comes at a time when Israeli aggression in Gaza is approaching a one-year mark and incidents of violence in the West Bank are on the rise. The U.S. and the international community should have taken specific actions to penalize Israel for its actions and stop its aggression against Gaza. Some suggest that Gulf states should utilize traditional power levers like oil, as was done in the 1970s, but unfortunately, the situation in the oil market has changed significantly.
The global energy dynamics are evolving, and Israel’s reckless actions are increasingly being reinforced despite the bitter realities occurring daily. The Palestinian people wish to return to their homes in Gaza, where Israel has established its presence through force. Global powers maintain a criminal silence over attempts to suppress those opposing such injustices. If anyone dares to acknowledge Israel’s war crimes, pressure could be exerted on Israel to comply with international laws. Illegal occupation of Palestinian territories constitutes a definition of Israeli war crimes.
Despite this open truth, global powers are not taking steps towards achieving justice for the Palestinians. In such a scenario, the State of Palestine must take significant and historic steps to secure its people’s rights and regional safety. It has become imperative to stop Israel’s expansionist ambitions, illegal occupations, unlawful exploitation of natural resources, and brutal actions against innocent Palestinians. For nearly a year, the Israeli government has trampled on international laws, devastated civilian populations, massacred patients in hospitals, and left no one to educate or learn in schools. Not only have major international powers like the U.S., U.K., France, and Germany failed to express regret over the massacre of innocent Palestinians or condemn this terrorism, but they continue to supply Israel with resources and modern weaponry while covering up its atrocities, making all these countries complicit in the oppression of Palestine.
On the other hand, Palestine’s defensive capabilities, courage, and morale have increased. The global powers that believed the Zionist government would eliminate Hamas in a matter of days with their assistance and subsequently occupy Gaza have seen this dream shattered. In fact, it has become a nightmare for Netanyahu. The illegitimate Israeli government believed that by killing Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, they would weaken the Palestinian resistance, but this did not happen. Following the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh and his funeral in Qatar, a new leader, Yahya Sinwar, was elected.
The new head of Hamas has changed the negotiation strategy, adopting a new approach that has begun to destabilize the Israeli government. Previously, hostages were moved to the safest locations during Israeli attacks; however, just days ago, six Jewish hostages were killed in Israeli bombardments. When their bodies were found, protests erupted across Israel demanding Netanyahu’s resignation.
The relatives of the hostages are also calling for the U.S. to negotiate with Hamas instead of Israel. Ultimately, Netanyahu had to shed tears of feigned regret in a televised address, apologizing to the public for his failure to ensure the safe return of hostages. In the same protests, a nationwide strike was observed in the country, bringing Israel’s system to a standstill. The seed that was planted 76 years ago for this illegitimate state has now hollowed out its roots, and its trunk is infested with termites. If Israel seeks safety, it must immediately agree to a ceasefire and prepare to exit Palestine, as Palestine belongs to the Palestinians, not to any occupying state or nation.