TAKE A STAND

 

 

 

 

 

THE “clear position” by the United States on Israel’s intentions to launch a major invasion of Rafah city has further kept the world on tenterhooks on the potential escalation of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza strip. From the first drafts of the White House read-outs, the US is opposed to further military campaign by the Israeli Defence Forces in Gaza but the assembly of soldiers towards the southern city in the Strip defeats the hope of a thaw in the current volatility. The Rafah situation has further complicated things in the Middle-East even as Israeli Prime Minister Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a possible revolt in his ministry over the latest move. It would be for the better of the civilians in the Gaza Strip and also of the entire world if US President Mr. Joe Biden comes out with a clear-cut ‘NO’ to Mr. Netanyahu’s transgressions. Mr. Biden and Mr. Netanyahu have been discussing Israel’s opening of routes into Gaza to send aid into the Strip amid fears of a famine. In all likelihood, with the international opinion slowly changing on the plight of civilians in Gaza, Mr. Netanyahu would allow the humanitarian aid to trickle in but at the same time he has been starting a new military front in Rafah which is set to scuttle hopes of a hostage deal with the Hamas militants.

 

If Israel goes ahead with plans to launch an invasion of Rafah then it would cut off the humanitarian help centres located there. US Secretary of State Mr. Antony Blinken has been tapping various sources in the Arab world to defuse the tensions but Mr. Netanyahu’s adamant posture is stretching things too far. Many US officials have shown their opposition to the Rafah operation in recent times. There is also a growing possibility of ministers bolting out of Bibi’s cabinet over the same issue. Protests are growing within Israel and in other parts of the world against the long-drawn war. The US, too, is facing the heat as its top universities are clamping down on demonstrations against the war in Gaza. As the world squirms with another potentially long armed conflict in the southern tip of Gaza, the White House is yet to elaborate whether the US supports any operation in Rafah that can further jeopardise several civilian lives. Mr. Biden has been insisting on more efforts from Tel Aviv to increase the amount of aid going into Gaza. There is a good amount of improvement in the flow of food and medical help into the Strip.

 

But these efforts are also being negated by setbacks from Israeli airstrikes, some of which even killed humanitarian workers. Such incidents can easily lead to further hostilities in the region despite the ongoing hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The US and several other countries have asked Hamas to immediately release the remaining 133 hostages it is holding in Gaza. A positive response is now awaited but with the Rafah operation on the anvil, there is a good chance of the deal getting wrecked midway. Tensions are already lurking in the Middle-East after the drone strike and counter-strike between Iran and Israel a few days ago. Though both the rivals ensured pin-point operations avoiding civilian casualties, there is a growing feeling in the region that a full-fledged war is on the way, sooner than later. Multi-dimensional and multi-natured fights make the region a tinderbox which the world now cannot afford to go into flames. The onus is on the US and other allies of Israel to dissuade Mr. Netanyahu from further pushing of the military card. As India has been advocating, it is clearly a time for diplomacy and dialogue to hammer out a solution. The Russia-Ukraine war is a crystal clear example of how a conflict can become never-ending in the absence of sane minds and muddled thinking.