Israel’s attempt to reshape West Asia after October 7 attack

Source: The post Israel’s attempt to reshape West Asia after October 7 attack has been created, based on the article “A three-tier war in West Asia with no endgame” published in “The Hindu” on 7th October is 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 – International Relations – Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Context: The article discusses how Israel’s attempt to reshape West Asia after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack failed. Israel is now fighting wars against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. Long-term stability in the region requires addressing the Palestine issue.

For detailed information on Israel-Hamas conflict read this article here

What was Jake Sullivan’s 2023 assessment of the Middle East?

1. Jake Sullivan, the U.S. National Security Adviser, wrote in October 2023 that the Middle East was quieter than it had been in decades. He acknowledged ongoing tensions, particularly in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
2. However, just days later, Hamas launched a major attack on Israel, killing at least 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages, reigniting the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Why did Israel believe it had established a new status quo?

1. Israel believed that it had created a new normal where it could occupy Palestinian territories without facing serious consequences.
2. Meanwhile, Arab nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE were moving toward normalizing relations with Israel, sidelining the Palestine issue.
3. The Abraham Accords of 2020 symbolized this shift. The U.S. also pushed for stronger ties between Israel and Sunni Arab states, aiming to isolate Iran.

For detailed information on The Abraham Accords read Article 1, Article 2

How did the status quo of this region disrupt?

1. Hamas’s October 2023 attack shattered Israel’s belief in the status quo.
2. It also triggered a wider conflict in the region, proving that peace in West Asia is impossible without addressing the Palestinian issue.
3. This attack led Israel to respond with intense military actions in Gaza, killing more than 41,000 Palestinians and displacing nearly the entire population of Gaza.
4. Despite ongoing violence, Israel is focused on reshaping the region in its favor, rather than seeking peace. However, past attempts, like those by the U.S., to reshape the Middle East have failed.

What is Israel’s strategy in its three-tier war?

1. Israel is fighting a three-tier war. First, it aims to destroy Hamas in Gaza and rescue the hostages.
2. Second, it seeks to push Hezbollah back from Lebanon’s border to protect northern Israel.
3. Third, it wants to weaken Iran, which it sees as the source of regional instability. Israel views Iran as the “head of the octopus” with militias like Hamas and Hezbollah as its “tentacles.”

What role does Iran play in this conflict?

1. Iran supports militias like Hezbollah and Hamas, making it a key player in the conflict.
2. Israel’s intelligence capabilities allow for targeted attacks within Iran, but these strikes have not deterred Iranian support for its allies.
3. Israel’s escalation could lead to a direct confrontation with Iran, raising fears that Iran might alter its nuclear policy.

What is needed for long-term stability in West Asia?

1. Address the Palestine Issue: Peace in West Asia requires resolving the long-standing Palestine question. The ongoing conflict shows that the region cannot stabilize without addressing this issue.
2. Ceasefire First Step: A ceasefire in Gaza is essential to de-escalate and create conditions for long-term peace.

Question for practice:

Examine how Hamas’s October 2023 attack disrupted the regional status quo and impacted Israel’s strategic approach.