THE unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israeli targets drew the world’s attention to the issue between Israel and Palestine, which has been ongoing for decades. A parallel can be drawn to the international response, or lack thereof, in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, where intervention by the United Nations (UN) and European Union (EU) remains elusive. In the Israel-Palestine Conflict, while countries worldwide condemn the actions of both sides, meaningful intervention to address the crisis has proven to be a formidable challenge. In the heart of the Middle East, a decades-long conflict continues to unfold, and the world’s silence grows louder.
The roots of the conflict can be traced back to the 19th century when the Zionist Movement sought to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine, which was then under Ottoman rule. During World War I, the British issued the Balfour Declaration in 1917, expressing support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, leading to future Jewish immigration to the region. In 1947, the United Nations proposed a partition plan to divide Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem under international administration. The plan was accepted by Jewish leaders but rejected by Arab leaders, leading to the outbreak of violence. On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was declared, leading to a war between Israel and neighbouring Arab states. This marked the beginning of the modern Israel-Palestine conflict.
The Israel-Palestine conflict has been marked by a series of conflicts that have had significant consequences over the decades. The First Arab-Israeli War in 1948 saw multiple Arab states launching military offensives against Israel after its declaration of statehood. The Six-Day War in 1967 resulted in Israel capturing the West Bank, Gaza Strip and other territories, expanding its control. The Yaum-e-Kippur War in 1973 reshaped regional alliances and had implications for the conflict. The First and Second Intifadas were prolonged periods of conflict in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, resulting in violence resembling conflicts. Operations such as Cast Lead (2008-2009) and Protective Edge (2014) in Gaza, along with ongoing tension and skirmishes, further illustrate the conflict’s history of military engagement.
After Hamas confronted Israel through all means – land, air and sea – officials announced that Israel is at war now. The whole world turned deaf ears to the inhumane actions of Israeli forces. Furthermore, the principles of law and the dictates of morality were also neglected. However, war crimes are continuously being committed in the Middle East by Israeli forces to ambush civilians as well as innocent Palestinians without taking the basic principles of International humanitarian law into account. Despite the vast criticism of ineffectiveness in implementation, international law still holds its essence and is meant to be obeyed.
The most disturbing effect of this conflict lies in the lives of the children residing in that region. The arrest, abduction and assault of Palestinian children have now become a routine affair. Moreover, the children are also denied to access the basic fundamental right of legal representation. This act is a clear violation of basic principles of international humanitarian law – that in the context of warfare, every effort should be made to spare the young children. Furthermore, it is also a violation of Article 77 of the Geneva Conventions which depicts that “Children shall be the object of special respect and shall be protected against any form of indecent assault.”
The conflict resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes who then became refugees, fleeing to neighbouring countries such as Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. As a result, they were often left without a recognized nationality, leading to statelessness. Stateless persons are individuals who are not considered nationals by any state, leaving them without the protection and rights that citizenship typically affords. Stateless persons, including Palestinian refugees, are meant to be protected by international human rights law and the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons. A core issue in the Israel-Palestine conflict is the Palestinian demand for the right of return for refugees to their homes in what is now Israel.
Till now, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran and many other Muslim countries have not recognized Israel as a State. However, 165 of the 193 total member states of the UN have recognized Israel, whereas Palestine has just a non-member observer state of the UN due to the inability of Security Council members to make a unanimous recommendation in favour of Palestine.
The world’s gaze fixates upon the Middle East, breathless in anticipation of what the future may unveil. International law, including the United Nations resolutions and the Geneva Conventions, provide a framework for resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict. This framework emphasizes the need for a two-state solution, with the establishment of a viable and independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. However, the path to this solution remains fraught with challenges, including issues related to borders, refugees and the status of Jerusalem.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Lahore.
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