Israel’s losing game in the Middle East: A war with no results

A year-long Israeli aggression against Palestinians in Gaza has resulted in the killing of approximately 41,000 civilians. As per United Nations and UNICEF reports, 16,756 children have been killed and 5300 injured, while 11,346 women killed in the conflict, so far.

In parallel, Israeli forces are choosing counter-value targets instead of counter-force, ultimately causing a serious humanitarian crisis in the Middle Eastern region. WHO data reveals that there had been 48 attacks reported on healthcare facilities in Gaza Strip, resulted in the damage of 24 hospitals including Al-Ahli Arab and Al-Shifa hospitals. According to UN reports, only four out of 22 health facilities are operational in Gaza strip.

In the same manner, Israeli forces are attacking the healthcare set-up of Lebanon. According to the WHO, in the recent air strikes, Israel shattered 37 healthcare facilities and killed dozens of medical staff. As a result, the Lebanese government is forced to close three hospitals in South Lebanon amid the fear of Israeli air strikes. In addition, hospitals near the Israel-Lebanon border are running out of supplies, making it impossible for them to carry out their duties.

US-controlled response to Israeli genocide is raising concerns across the globe. Its neither a hawk nor a dove policy on Israeli aggression is dragging the US away from its principle stance on the Russia-Ukraine war and China-Taiwan crises. Instead of playing an active role in stopping Israel from further aggression, the US is providing advanced weaponry to Israel and strengthening their combat readiness.

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Conversely, the Israeli leadership lacks clear policy objectives regarding what they aim to achieve from this war. The opening of a second front in Lebanon now places Israel in a position where there is no end in sight on either front. Their targeting of civilian infrastructure is directly related to the making of more freedom fighters, because countering oppression is the basic teaching of Islam.

Tel Aviv, in a year-long conflict achieved nothing but shame and disgrace on the global stage, which highlights the basic policy failure towards handling the war. Arguably, the silence of International institutions on the ongoing genocide in Gaza ultimately strengthens Israeli stance and actions. Therefore, it provides a sense of legitimisation to Israel while bombing hospitals and children.

It is important to highlight that Tel Aviv stands unsuccessful in eliminating the ideology already established in the Gaza Strip and peripheries which considered Israel as an occupying force. Similarly, Tel Aviv has failed to inculcate its vision of a sovereign and legitimate state in the people of Palestine; neither could they attract them nor could they convince them. Still, after a year of bloody conflict, those masses are not willing to accept the Israeli state and consider it an occupying force living on the lands of Palestinians. Which ultimately means that it is possible to kill individuals but it is nearly impossible to kill an ideology.

If one delves into the recent history, the US’s 20 years-long invasion of Afghanistan did not change the ideology of the Afghans, despite using every kind of weapon there, which is why they failed and got defeated. The same results can be drawn from the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 and 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Moreover, targeting civilian infrastructure, taking counter-value targets on priority and eliminating the thinking cycle by force would not make one victorious; instead, there is a need to start the process of a healthy dialogue to end this long-standing conflict in the Middle Eastern region. Time and again, periods of intense hostility are followed by brief lulls, only for violence to reignite.

Furthermore, the involvement of other regional actors like Iran and Lebanon in the ongoing hostility is exacerbating the crises into a regional conflict, having global security consequences. It has the ability to disrupt global supply chains and drag global powers, i.e., the US and Russia into the conflict.

Moving in opposition to Clausewitz’s Trinity concept may only bring failure for Israel. According to a survey of PEW Research Centre, 68 per cent Israeli citizens said that they are extremely or very concerned about the war going on for a long time without achieving primary objectives. The people to fight with are already against you, but when those you’re fighting for turn against you, it will create real chaos. Severing the crucial “People” element of Clausewitz’s Trinity from Tel Aviv’s strategy will result in fiasco.

Therefore, a global call for dialogue and settlement of the conflict is need of the hour. A united demand for de-escalation, protection of civilians and renewed diplomatic efforts could serve as a blueprint for resolving future conflicts. Rather than backing either side, the international community should focus on creating avenues for peace, highlighting the humanitarian cost of protracted wars and championing the protection of non-combatants. The international community must break this cycle and they must promote dialogue over destruction.

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The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.