Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeated nations’ determination to fight against Hamas & defend itself, even if it means facing challenges without external support, especially, the support from United States of America.

 

The statement from Prime Minister Netanyahu comes after Biden threatened to freeze arms supplies to Israel if Israel goes ahead to attack Rafah City in Gaza. As per reports, the white house has already confirmed the delay in dispatching the 2000-pound explosives over fear of its use in Rafah City.

It is evident that Israel is determined to press ahead with its operation into the Rafah city, which accommodates the remaining Hamas troops & resources. The statement from Israel’s Prime minister signifies Israel’s self-reliance in defense posture, strategic partnerships & reserve weapons.

President Joe Biden publicly advised Israel against attacking populated areas in Rafah and cautioned that such actions could jeopardize U.S. support. Reportedly, Israel bombarded some areas in Rafah the next day. USA is much concerned on the existing humanitarian issues in the region among the dense civilian population in Rafah & the probability of situation getting worse if Israel invades Rafah. Biden’s public caution has not gone well with politicians in Israel.

The hostage truce talks at Cairo have not resulted in any mutual solution & the situation is fragile.

Asymmetric Equation between Israel’s Safety & Future of Gaza: 

The future of the Gaza strip seems to be an eggshell, that can break into pieces with no defined future. At the same time, there is no clear sign of unconditional return of hostages being held by Hamas. The clash between Hamas’ uncompromising stance and Israel’s firm commitment to security supplemented with far-right ideologies, underscores the complexities and challenges in achieving a lasting resolution to the conflict in the region.

A Two-State Solution:

Diplomats and experts agree that amidst continued cycles of violence and a prolonged military operations spanning over fifty years, achieving lasting peace is extremely necessary following the deadliest clashes between Israelis and Palestinians in decades.

World leaders have consistently proposed for the two-state solution to the continued conflict in the region, which will mean dividing the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean to establish two independent and sovereign states for Israelis and Palestinians, coexisting peacefully alongside each other.

With a passage of time, lesser & lesser number of Israelis believe in the two-state solution. In September 2023, 35% Israelis agreed to the two-state solution in a survey conducted by PEW Research Center Survey, which is a 15% reduction compared to earlier survey. At the same time, the Right-wing Government led by PM Netanyahu has always given the cold shoulder to the prospects of a two-state solution.

Unfortunately, there is a significant decline in Palestinians to accept a two-state solution as well. As per a survey conducted by Gallup Poll, only 24% Palestinians believe in a two-state solution, down from 59% in earlier survey. Especially, the youth of Palestine show least of their interest to this proposition.

The insufficiency of political will on both sides & absence of a government of wisdom in Israel makes the state of affairs uncertain. President Biden may be struggling at present to make a balance between his efforts to de-escalate the Gaza war, Keep assisting Ukraine against Russian aggression and his own prospects to retain his presidency in the upcoming election.

If Donald Trump wins & becomes the president of USA, the dynamics of world politics will change a course and the prospects of two-state solution will die a slow death.

 

The world currently suffers from numerous wars and the narrow politics surrounding them. The Israeli government’s hesitance towards embracing a two-state solution, coupled with the absence of any other practical option to address human rights in Palestine or secure the basic rights of Palestinians for an independent and sovereign nation, endorses the volatility of the region. This frail situation not only aids to tensions between global powers, but also propels growing unrest in Iran and affects political dynamics within the United States & Other Permanent Members of Security Council.

The world anxiously watches as the precarious game unfolds, although recognizing that a resolution to the Gaza conflict through a two-state framework is not only feasible, but also urgent and imminent.