Global South’s Position on the Israel-Palestine Conflict

Source: The post Global South’s position on the Israel-Palestine conflict has been created, based on the article “The Gaza war and the Global South’s ‘interventions’” published in “The Hindu” on 25th October 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2- International Relations

Context: The article discusses recent developments in the Israel-Palestine conflict, highlighting the role of key powers like India and China. It describes differing stances in the Global South and suggests that these divisions hinder any united approach to peace.

For detailed information on Israel-Palestine Conflict read this article here

What Happened Recently in Gaza?

On October 16, 2024, Israel killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza. He had taken control of Hamas after Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination in July 2024. Sinwar was a key figure behind the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. Israel has been targeting Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, increasing civilian casualties in Gaza and Lebanon.

What is the Global South’s Position?

1. South Africa’s Position:
2. South Africa, influenced by its apartheid experience, strongly opposes Israel’s actions.
3. In December 2023, it took Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to seek accountability for Israel’s human rights actions.
4. South Africa wants the ICJ to issue a warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
5. China’s Position
6. China backs Palestinian sovereignty from a decolonization perspective.
7. In July 2024, it hosted 14 Palestinian groups, including Hamas, to encourage unity.
8. Despite not condemning Hamas explicitly after the October 2023 attacks, China prioritizes its alliances with Arab nations.
9. China uses forums like BRICS to expand influence in the Global South, although its relations with Israel are limited.
10. India’s Position
11. India balances support for Israel in counterterrorism with support for a two-state solution.
12. India recognized Palestinian statehood in 1988 and aligns with anti-terrorism due to its own experiences, like the 1999 IC814 hijacking.
13. India promotes counterterrorism efforts globally while supporting Palestinian rights.

For detailed information on Change and continuity in India’s Palestine policy read this article here

What Are the Implications for Global South Unity?

1. There is no unified stance within the Global South. Each country prioritizes its interests, which leads to fragmented approaches.
2. The lack of a cohesive strategy makes it difficult to form a unified front that could effectively intervene or mediate in the conflict.
3. Major global players are involved, but there is no consensus on how to proceed, which complicates efforts towards peace.

Question for practice:

Examine how the differing positions of Global South countries impact their ability to form a unified approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict.