By Elliott West
“The metaphor for Palestine is stronger than the Palestine of reality”.
Mahmoud Darwish
Introduction
The Middle East has a long history of political unrest and atrocious conflicts. Deep scars litter the history books with the West failing to create stability in countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, resulting in dangerous power vacuums that allow terrorist groups to populate the political desert. Although these are continuing issues, the media only reports on them when they escalate. The latest crisis involves a Hamas incursion into Israel which has led to a large number of Israel and Palestinian civilians dead and hostages taken by Hamas. A war of words, ideologies and military might in which the peace-loving, democratic nations of Gaza and Israel are caught in the deadly crossfire of a terrorist-driven militant group and a far-right government whose aim is to wipe each other off the face of the planet. Neither side will take responsibility for their barbaric actions and is prepared for many people including women, children and the elderly to go to unmarked graves to achieve their goal.
This is a war that raged on since Israel first occupied the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1967. The West Bank is now made up of 165 Palestinian enclaves which they partially rule but the remaining 200 Israeli settlements are under full Israeli control. However, the flashpoint came much earlier in 1947 when the United Nations recommended independent Arab and Jewish states under its partition plan. A plan that was accepted by the Jews but rejected by the Arabs. A civil war erupted after this announcement in Palestine and the State of Israel was formed on 14 May 1948.
The Chasm
Despite numerous wars, unrest and peace talks in this 75-year conflict, it saddens me that we are no closer to a credible solution in this Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Hamas has abused its power since taking control of the Gaza Strip in 2006, using the money that has been given to it to create an inhabitable infrastructure to pump the funds instead into its military Arsenal and the Israeli government believes that tank fire and missiles are the only way to protect its country. The best hope at the moment is a ceasefire by one or the other side but we are a long way off from a solution as was found in Northern Ireland. This is not only a physical war but an information war too. Both sides blame each other for the bombing of a safe zone, the Al-Ahli Hospital, Gaza that flattened the car park, leaving burnt-out cars and a disputed number of dead. The IDF claims it wasn’t an Israeli bomb that caused the destruction and deaths but a misfired rocket launched by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PLJ) group.
The West including Great Britain and the USA have shown solidarity with the Israeli government with Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak making visits to Israel. However, Benjamin Netanyahu isn’t as popular as you might think with many Israelis having a great deal of sympathy for the Palestinian people and who want an end to living day to day in constant fear for their lives. Hamas seized an opportunity to cause a sizable blow to Israel and it remains to be answered why this country wasn’t prepared especially as they had been previously tipped off about such an attack by Egypt. A Jewish state that prides itself on one of the best military forces and intelligence services.
A Humanitarian Crisis
Although the Israeli government claims there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza, reports from the ground prove otherwise. This is a nation that spent years without basic foodstuffs, electricity, clean water and petrol and now it has reached a crisis. Thousands of Palestinians have been forced to leave Gaza and flee to the Egyptian border to seek refuge. Before this war erupted, there was no work, no hope and no future. Now there is not only no bread or water but also a vile smell of death on the streets. Many of the buildings are merely rubble with those who choose to stay, seeking sanctuary in the schools and hospitals that remain standing. This is a living nightmare that no one should have to endure, hell with the flames constantly stoked.
Peace
Israel has stalled on a full-on ground offensive on Gaza, towing the diplomatic line for now but continues its mission to wipe out Hamas whatever the death toll of civilian casualties. At the time of writing this, it has just killed the head of the Hamas-led security forces, Jehad Mheisen and his family after a strike on their house. Hamas is a vile organisation and the Palestinian people deserve a peaceful, law-abiding and democratic government. Only then will they have a chance of a better life. However, it will take a massive change of heart for Israel to ever let the Palestinian State exist without military occupation. This is a historical puzzle that still has many of the pieces missing and will only be resolved if both sides minus Hamas, get around a table and broker a deal after talking long into countless nights. Violence and war have to be withdrawn from the equation, a tough ask with the years of scars both sides have endured but the only way forward. This is a volatile situation that without a solution will lead to years more of bloodshed and further turmoil in the Middle East as a consequence. A war where at least 203 people are currently being held hostage.
