The Qatari foreign ministry reacted to the surprise offensive of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, against Israel, started during the dawn of 07 October 2023. It stated that only Israel was responsible for the violence, after its treatment of Palestinians since the State's establishment in 1948. Evictions from homes, prohibition to worship at the al-Aqsa Mosque (one of the holiest sites in Islam), prolonged right-wing rule in Israel, and increasing authoritarian rule that is creeping into the welfare of even Israelis are pieces of evidence of a higher level of oppression against Palestinians, and this compelled Hamas to plan the offensive it calls "Operation al-Aqsa Storm" that later caught Israel off guard.
I am not impressed with any Gulf state, though. Saudi Arabia has women's rights issues, the ghost of Jamal Khashoggi, and normalisation with the "Islamic Republic" of Iran and Bashar al-Assad. The United Arab Emirates also did the same thing with the latter, and is helping rogue parties in Sudan and Libya. Qatar found a friend in the Iranian regime during the former's feud with Saudi Arabia in 2017, and has the same civil rights climate as its neighbours (see here). But their stains never invalidate Israel's. And in the current conflict which prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declares as war, things are not easing.
For 09 October alone, what happened that can aggravate the conflict are as follows:
- The United States is dispatching the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to the region to back the Israeli counteroffensive;
- Israel declares a blockade on Gaza; there will be no food, water nor electricity;
- Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, sympathetic to Hamas and backed by the Iranian regime, had incursions with Israel along the border; one was killed;
- Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida threatened Israel it will kill one hostage taken from the latter, for every strike in Gaza.
If we suggest at least either side win, it would be bloody: with the current tactics Israel uses against Gaza, it is impossible for it to obliterate Hamas without killing thousands of Palestinian civilians, and letting Hamas reach its destination-- al-Aqsa Mosque, the namesake of the group's operation-- would observe executions and abductions of Israeli civilians, as what it had done during a trance music festival in Re'im, and also in Be'eri, both the near the Israel-Gaza border.
Involvement of foreign powers would also worsen the crisis; an American-backed Israeli ground offensive on Gaza would give the United States more Palestinian blood on hands, and this would become a repeat of Iraq, a recall of Afghanistan and Libya. This would also severely tarnish its campaign to back Ukraine in its defence against Russia under Vladimir Putin. It will ultimately give leverage to the Russian leader.
Qatar is correct in a way, that the offensive is the product of Israel's oppressive discrimination towards Palestinians, yet the actions of Hamas, particularly the revenge against Israelis by terrorising civilians, is never excusable. It is life for life, war crime for war crime, terror for terror. So it means an armed struggle against Israel after the Catastrophe (Nakba) will not grant justice. Who then can and should solve the conflict?
Who first instigated the Nakba? Who makes it difficult for Palestinians to get Israeli citizenship and enjoy the same privileges Israeli citizens do? Who evicts Palestinians from their homes? Who prevents Palestinians from worshipping at al-Aqsa Mosque? Who has done corrupt practices and is trying to reform the judiciary? My suggestion is the following need to be done:
- First secure places where Israelis live. What the areas occupied by Hamas during the offensive were before, they should return to that calm situation;
- Then abruptly end the bombing campaign in Gaza and lift the blockade; no genocidal calls should be raised, and more aid should flow to Gaza (basic needs);
- Force Hamas to go to the negotiating table. We cannot satisfy their demand of dissolving the Israeli state, but we must also put the harrowing plight of Palestinians at the core of solving this crisis;
- Set an international criminal tribunal up, and hold all parties who committed crimes against humanity-- Israeli and Palestinian alike-- accountable; corruption trials should also be held to mitigate corrupt practices in the potential new government;
- With the guidance of the United Nations, form an interim government consisting of Israelis and Palestinians. The members should set the animosity aside and let the court do the justice for all the victims of crimes;
- There is also no sense in pursuing the two-state solution-- drawing the borders between the two entities would balkanise the region; Palestinians also consider regions like Galilee and Negev and the cities of Haifa and Jaffa (Tel Aviv-Yafo) as part of their homeland. With the court processing the justice, Israelis and Palestinians should co-exist in neighbourhoods in harmony.
- Two states means two systems; this also maintains and promotes the disparity between Israelis and Palestinians.
- The interim government should review all the laws of the States of Israel and Palestine and nullify which are discriminatory and violate human rights. A new constitution that is inclusive and democratic must be formulated and promulgated.
- Hold elections with equal representation of Israelis and Palestinians; the new government shall uphold equal rights for the Palestinian and the Israeli;
- Consider sending a peacekeeping force in the region to prevent the escalation of conflict between the two peoples.
And much of these activities will have many concessions on the part of Israel, as it is liable for the maltreatment of Palestinians. On the part of Palestine, the concessions will be the end of armed struggle, the dissolution and surrender of militant groups, and leaving higher parties like the tribunal court, the peacekeeping force and the interim government to do the justice. This means these forces would be handling a very fragile situation, and they need to make sure they will not infuriate the Palestinians and Israelis.
Foreign powers should also leave the matter to the international community; they should refrain from adding fuel to the fire.
Israelis and Palestinians need to secure and guarantee sustainable peace in their land. Considering the extent of the entire damage, the peace process will be arduous, and new approaches should be taken. Change of character among all of those involved and affected shall also happen. Besides, if Israel humbles before the Lord, it would no longer worry about its future; there is also nothing bad with harmonious coexistence of Israelis and Palestinians.
Article posted on 10 October 2023, 19:45 (UTC +08:00).
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