WHILE Israeli genocide against Palestinians (Gaza) has been continuing since October 7, 2023, two major developments have taken place over the issue at global level. In the first development, China has initiated a process of uniting various Palestinian groups in order to create consensus among them for a future Palestinian state. In the other development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has addressed the US Congress and demanded more war munitions to intensify the process of genocide of Palestinians. Analysing the developments and their future consequences, one would find two opposing approaches being adopted to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
In the Chinese idea for a consensus among the various segments of Palestinians to create a future Palestine state seems logical, workable and long-lasting to end this prolonged conflict through Two-State solution; a Palestinian state and an Israeli state with clearly defined borders. In Beijing, Hamas and other Palestinians groups and organizations including Fatah signed an agreement on July 23, 2024 for working together for the National Unity among Palestinian; indeed, ruling together upon end of Israeli military aggression. Besides Hamas and Al Fatah, 12 other Palestinian groups, agreed to set up an “interim national reconciliation government” to govern post-war Gaza. Today we sign an agreement for national unity and we say that the path to completing this journey is national unity. We are committed to national unity and we call for it. Chinese Foreign Minister said, after the factions signed the “Beijing Declaration” in the Chinese capital. “Reconciliation is an internal matter for the Palestinian factions, but at the same time, it cannot be achieved without the support of the international community,”
Contrary to this understanding among Palestinians at Beijing, China, the US backed Israeli approach is quite different asking for a single state solution (the State of Israel) with expanded borders to entire area of the conflict and there would be no Palestinian state. On July 18, 2024, a resolution was passed by Israeli parliament that overwhelmingly rejected the establishment of a Palestinian state. This was almost a unanimous resolution, since 68 votes in favour of this resolution and nine members opposed it.
This resolution clearly aims at ending the option of a Palestinian state which Prime Minister Netanyahu and his cabinet consider as a threat for the future of State of Israel. This resolution means ending the Palestinians through a process of genocide. Killing of over 40,000 Palestinians (official figures) so far and injuring over 200,000 without a pause means a lot. It is obvious that, the approach being adopted by Israel means; no peace but a state of war in the region for which the United States and entire Europe stand behind Israel. Within a few days after passage of this resolution, Israeli Prime Minister rushed to Washington to give an outline/ roadmap to US lawmakers about extermination of Palestinians and get their consent over this.
Netanyahu was loud and clear in his approach and idea about the future state of Gaza and Palestinians in his fourth address with US Congress ever since the commencement of Israeli aggression against Gaza. He tried to convince the lawmakers of the superpower that, not Israel but, Palestinians are issue and war would continue until extermination of Hamas, as if entire Gaza population consists of Hamas warriors. Israeli forces are killing everyone in Gaza, irrespective of their affiliations with anyone. Asking for a dedicated American support, he said that the US and Israel must stand together, “when we stand together, something very simple happens: We win, they lose.” He also sketched a vision that Israeli forces will maintain total control over entire Gaza upon end of war. “The day after we defeat Hamas, a new Gaza could emerge.” Israel would like to see a demilitarised and de-radicalised Gaza with no settlement or resettlement of Gaza. This address of Israeli Prime gives a clear roadmap for the future of the region; a) One state solution, b) No Palestinian population in Gaza), c) West Bank Palestinian population may opt to live under State of Israel or else leave the area, d) Israel as the future imperialist power of the Middle East.
In order to end the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, Netanyahu clearly asked US Congress that; “Fast-tracking US military aid can dramatically expedite an end to the war in Gaza and help prevent a broader war in the Middle East,” indeed, a threat to take the war to entire Middle East. Very surprizing, why to take the war to rest of Middle East which is already dead. No Middle Eastern state has even condemned the Israeli genocide of Palestinians. Netanyahu demanded US Congress, “Give us the tools faster, and we’ll finish the job faster.” Imagine how the lawmakers of the superpower are being dictated and ordered by a tiny Zionist state. Indeed, Jewish lobby did this all and desired to end any resistance in the expansion of this Zionist State. Should such an approach bring peace in the region?
Indeed, the Chinese approach seems quite workable for a lasting peace between Israel and Palestinians through two-state solution. The Israel approach has many inbuilt flaws of denying the Palestinians of their right over their state, their genocide and expulsion from the motherland. Besides, Israel has the intent to have its influence over the entire Middle East, as threatened by Prime Minister Netanyahu during his address to the US Congress. The international community, especially the civil societies of the West, must raise their voices to; a) end this one sided military aggression against Palestinians and b) compel their power centres to conclude a two-state solution with permanent borders, decided once for all.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
