The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Middle-East war

  • Middle-East war: A carnage piercing human conscience

    Middle-East war: A carnage piercing human conscience

    After attacking Israel on October 7, 2023, about 251 Israelis and foreigners were taken captive by Hamas, with the goal to force Israel to release Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that his government would “take mighty vengeance” against Hamas. The conflict in Gaza has turned everyday life into a relentless battle for survival, with women and children bearing the brunt. Iran, Hezbollah and Houthis are sucked into the crisis too with their citizens bearing the effects. It is a conflict that captured global attention in the latter part of 2024, Assistant Editor Bola Olajuwon writes.

    The Israeli government formally declared war on Sunday, October 8, 2023 on Hamas militants in Gaza, setting the stage for a massive military response to the group’s surprise attack on the Jewish state.

    The Hamas attack on 7 October, 2023 involved a rocket barrage and a few thousand militants breaching the Gaza–Israel barrier, attacking civilian communities and military bases.

    During this attack, 1,195 Israelis and foreign nationals were reportedly killed, including 815 civilians.

    The governing leaders of Gaza, Hamas, said the attack was in response to Israel’s continued occupation, blockade, expansion of settlements, disregard for international law, as well as alleged threats to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the general plight of Palestinians.

    After clearing militants from its territory, Israel launched one of the most destructive bombing campaigns in modern history and invaded Gaza on 27 October with the stated objectives of destroying Hamas and freeing hostages. Ahead of the Cabinet vote, Netanyahu declared that Israel would “take mighty vengeance” against Hamas, even as its soldiers battled Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel and launched retaliatory airstrikes that leveled buildings in Gaza.

    Despite the vows of Netanyahu and the now dismissed Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, that Hamas, who they described as “human animals”, would be routed in a flash, the war is still on.

    Palestinians’ relentless battle for survival

    The ongoing conflict in Gaza has turned everyday life into a relentless battle for survival, with women and children bearing the brunt of the human tragedy visited on them. With no homes, schools, and a sense of normalcy, Palestinian young souls navigate a grim reality where the basic need for food has become an elusive luxury. Hunger gnaws at their frail bodies, and the constant threat of violence has robbed them of laughter, safety, and dreams. Hospital facilities have been reduced to rubbles and medical personnel killed and maimed.

    The dire situation forced the world to look beyond the statistics and see the faces behind the crisis. But maddening diplomacy and international interests of unipolar world seems to becloud global leaders. Even United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and his team are helpless.

    It is the fifth war of the Gaza–Israel conflict since 2008, and the most significant military engagement in the region since the Yom Kippur War in 1973. It is the deadliest war for Palestinians in the history of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

    Iran, Hezbollah and Houthi rebels join the crisis

    Lebanon’s Hezbollah has been exchanging fire with Israeli forces across the border since its ally Hamas in Gaza and Israel went to war. The violence on the frontier between Israel and Lebanon is the deadliest escalation since Hezbollah and the Israeli military fought a major war in 2006.

    Iran’s Revolutionary Guards founded Hezbollah in 1982, in the middle of Lebanon’s 1975-90 civil war. It was part of Iran’s effort to exports its 1979 Islamic Revolution around the region and fight Israeli forces after their 1982 invasion of Lebanon.

    Read Also: Akpabio flags off medical outreach to support Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda

    Also, fueled by Iranian military support and expertise, the Houthis used the nearly decade-long war to dramatically expand their military capabilities and cement their control of northern Yemen. Houthis were equally drawn into the war and despite United States-led attacks to serve as deterrent, have not seized in their hatred for Israeli and Jewish-bound ships.

    Iran and Israel had also in recent times exchanged missile and drone attacks.

    ‘Palestinian death toll surpasses 44,000’

    The Gaza Health Ministry last weekend indicated that Palestinian death toll from the war has surpassed 44,000 and about 16 notable Hamas and Hezbollah leaders had been killed by Israel.

    They include Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and Lebanon’s Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. He led Hezbollah through decades of conflict with Israel, overseeing its transformation into a military force with regional sway and becoming one of the most prominent Arab figures in generations – with Iranian backing.

    Also, the Israeli Army on September 30, 2024 “eliminated” Hamas’ leader Sharif in Lebanon, as it continued to target Iran-backed militant groups in the neighbouring country. One of Hezbollah’s top commanders, Ali Karaki, was killed in the airstrike that assassinated Nasrallah. The Israeli military said more than 20 militants of varying ranks were killed in the strike on an underground bunker.

    Others included Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated on July 31 during a visit to Tehran. He had been the Hamas leader since 2017.

    ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, ‘late’ Hamas leader

    The decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and a top Hamas official puts them in a small group of leaders accused of crimes against humanity.

    Netanyahu and his former defence chief, as well as a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri, were accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. The decision was met with outrage in Israel, which called it shameful and absurd. But Hamas welcomed the warrants against the Israelis, and a senior official said it was a first step towards justice.

    Netanyahu’s office said the ICC decision was “antisemitic” and he will “not yield to pressure, will not be deterred” until Israel’s war objectives are met. U.S. President Joe Biden called the arrest warrant “outrageous”.

    Can warrant reduce the carnage?

    Qatar had withdrawn from negotiating truce among the parties and the U.S. that had sent top diplomatic and security envoys to mediate too vetoed a United Nations (UN) motion on ceasefire.

    The world is watching whether South Africa’s case, which led to the ICC prosecutors demanding the issuing of the arrest warrants, will finally drag the Israeli and Hamas leaders to the negotiation table.

    However, Netanyahu, who himself has cases to answer, is holding tightly to power and has not achieved the objectives of the war: to eradicate Hamas and its threats and return the kidnapped Israelis and foreigners – most of whom analysts argued would have been killed in Israeli bombardments of tunnels.

    The Israel and Hamas war continues and it will take years to reconstruct infrastructure as well as build peace and mutual co-existence.

  • Makings of a full blown Middle-East war

    Makings of a full blown Middle-East war

    By Sunday Onyemaechi Eze

    Iran, on April 14th, launched a much anticipated overnight reprisal attack against Israel, in response to the deadly April 1st drone strike on her consulate in Syria which resulted in the death of top Iran’s Elite Revolutionary Guard Corps officers. Members of the Guard killed included senior commanders Mohammad Reza Zahedi and Brig.-Gen. Mohammad Hadi Haj Rahimi. Consequently, Tehran fired more than 300 ballistic and cruise missiles into Israeli territory injuring at least 12, military spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said. Israel reported that the missiles were launched simultaneously from Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, adding that almost all, if not all, of the missiles were intercepted. The successful interception of the missiles was made possible in partnership with an alliance of countries like Britain, the United States and Jordan.

    Confirming the attack, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said early April 14th that a drone and missile attack was under way against Israel. Maj.-Gen. Hossein Salami, Commander of the Guards, claimed the drone attack against Israel was “more successful than we had expected,” but warned that any retaliation by Israel would draw a more forceful response. Iran said a “new equation” in its frosty relationship with Israel had been launched, and warned of a “much bigger” assault on Israel should Netanyahu decide on a full scale attack.  “We have decided to create a new equation, which is that if from now on the Zionist regime attacks our interests, assets, personalities, and citizens, anywhere, and at any point we will retaliate against them,” Hossein Salami told Iranian state Tv.

    Aware of the capacity of Israel to preserve self and tenaciously defend national interest, Iran’s official position was restated by the Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who warned: “In case the Israeli regime embarks on adventurism again and takes action against the interest of Iran, the next response from us will be immediate and at a maximum level.” Reacting to the attack, Hamas has expressly thrown its weight behind Iran, saying it was a deserved response to the attack in Syria. Houthi rebel officials in Yemen also congratulated Iran for their action.

    Read Also: Graça Machel: Meet woman who became First Lady of two different countries

    Israel’s three-man war cabinet made up of the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Benny Gantz, former Defence Minister, is weighing commensurate options of response to Iran’s provocation which experts say is capable of pushing the middle east into a full blown regional war. This is exactly what Iran anticipates. Reacting to the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “We have intercepted, we have contained; together we shall win.” Israel will respond to Iran’s attack, but the latitude of the onslaught is yet to be decided, an Israeli official told CNN. The official said Israel is yet to decide whether to try and “break all the dishes” or do something more measured.

    Israel and Iran have for years engaged in a shadow war to exert more influence across the middle-east. They launch proxy attacks against each other and vested interests on land, sea, in the air and cyberspace. The latest bombardment of Israel marked a turning point in the conflict. According to Ahron Bregman, a political scientist and expert in Middle East security issues at King’s College in London, “it was the first time Iran directly attacked Israel from its own territory. Before now, Iran has largely used foreign proxies like Hezbollah militia to attack Israeli interests, while one key Israeli strategy was targeted assassinations of Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists.”

    Western allies have urged Israel to de-escalate the ongoing war in Gaza, which has killed more than 33,000 Palestinians and created a big humanitarian tragedy. Although the United States of America has taken a neutral stand, promising not to join Israel in a likely offensive against Iran, President Joe Biden condemned the attack and echoed the United States’ firm support to Israeli security. Other friends including Germany, Canada, France and Britain restated their commitment to Israel but expressed fears that Tehran’s assault could further undermine peace in the middle-east.  Biden had urged Netanyahu to consider the events of Saturday night a “win” as the attacks had been largely unsuccessful, and instead validated Israel’s ability to defend self against vicious attacks.”

    However, US military warned that “we do not seek conflict with Iran, but we will not hesitate to protect our forces and support the defence of Israel.” Biden had issued a directive for deployment of aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the region in anticipation of any eventuality. “We will remain vigilant to all threats and will not hesitate to take all necessary action to protect our people,” he said.

    The European Union, United Nations and other international bodies made phone calls, appealing, meeting and also mediating to prepare grounds for peace in order to forestall impending escalation of hostilities between the two nations. Israel does not take lightly any slur on her sovereignty. Those who understood how pugnacious and assertive Israel could be in a situation like this are simply waiting for the breaking news report. The middle-east is racing against peace and peaceful co-existence. Without urgent regional interventions and sincere global actions taken on genuine peace, this imminent crisis will escalate into a full blown war. Instability in the middle-east is tantamount to elusive global world stability.

    Global leaders seem not oblivious of the calamity awaiting to befall the earth. It is right to say that global politics is seen not to be played fairly. Information churned out concerning this crisis and decisions made on middle-east issues are full of lies, biases, pretensions and subterfuge. Iran is bitter with the turn of events in the region and those who think the biases or Iranian position will fade away soon should think twice. Tehran is bent on snatching the regional dominance from Israel, which she feels is domineering by any means possible. She also feels Israel represents the interest of her longtime foes in the West. Those who are beneficiaries of the old order do everything within their reach to maintain the status quo, while the middle-east has continued to suffer endlessly as a result. Supremacy battle between the super powers has invariably had a devastating effect on the middle-east peace and stability.

    Supremacy battle, cultural and religious differences fuel the animosity between both countries. Israel is very much aware of Tehran’s involvement in sponsorship of major crisis in the middle-east by engaging Hamas, Hezbollah and Houtis of Yemen as foot soldiers. Iran positions herself as the defender of Islamic interest while she continuously benefits from the ruins and instability in the middle-east. Whatever action Iran takes in the name of protecting the interest of the entire middle-east is both for economic and religious reasons. The attack on Iranian Embassy in Syria is the usual response to the existing tension.  It was also strategic in prosecuting the war in Gaza and weakening the military capacity of Iran, which is bent on building nuclear war heads.

    Experts have in various contributions to the crisis sued for peace and recommended a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. However, Iran sees Israel from the prism of a stranger and usurper in the middle-east.  The major casualties of war are mostly innocent women and children. They know next to nothing about plans and attacks against Gaza by Israel, or Iran against Israel. When the hostility begins and pressure mounts high, leaders in both countries will find shelter and comfort in allied states, leaving the vulnerable in the cross-fire. Global sympathy will drive the narrative based on state interests, but the damage would have been done. Israel may not be contemplating the magnitude of what happened in Gaza to repeat in Iran, but the retaliation will be devastating. The world will talk, sell their weapons and when the damage is done, they will donate part of the proceeds from the ruins of the war as aid and call for ceasefire.

    • Eze, a media and communication specialist, writes via sunnyeze02@yahoo.com