Hamas’s recent deadly attack has thrust the Israeli-Palestinian conflict back into the spotlight, reminding the world of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the plight of Palestinians in the West Bank. The militant group launched aerial attacks and breached heavily fortified borders into Israel, leading to a historic level of violence that has claimed the lives of hundreds of Israelis. Inevitably, Israel’s counterattack will result in further casualties and destruction in Palestinian territories, intensifying the occupation.
This attack comes after nearly two decades of international neglect of Gaza’s population of over two million, living under Israeli control with restricted access to airspace, borders, and the sea. Simultaneously, Palestinians in the West Bank have endured escalating hardships under Israel’s right-wing government, marked by incidents of violence perpetrated by Israeli security forces and settlers. The alarming situation has escalated tensions, with Israeli ministers pursuing annexationist policies and rhetoric that has triggered violent responses from Palestinians.
One significant factor contributing to the turmoil is the increasing presence of Israeli Jews praying at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, a holy site in Islam. A Hamas commander cited these developments as contributing factors to the recent escalation.
However, the ongoing reality of occupation has not been a central focus of US and Arab leaders’ engagement with the region in recent years, even as conditions for Palestinians have deteriorated.
This raises questions for the Israeli government, the Biden administration, and Arab leaders about how they seemingly forgot about the Palestinian issue and Gaza.
President Joe Biden has maintained his predecessor Donald Trump’s policy of sidelining the Palestinian question while prioritizing the normalization of Israel’s relations with Arab states, regardless of the Israeli government’s policies.
Under the current US-led diplomatic approach, there is little room for Palestinians, with discussions mainly centered around minor concessions to alleviate daily humiliations. Biden recently stated the US’s commitment to preserving the path to a negotiated two-state solution. However, negotiations between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization have been stagnant since 2014, and many Palestinian analysts acknowledge that previous US administrations engaged in an unsuccessful process that never allowed for the conditions of an independent Palestinian state.
The symbolic power of Hamas’s breach of Israeli security barriers and the havoc it caused in Israel will resonate across Palestine, the Arab world, and beyond. It highlights the enduring significance of the Palestinian cause in the Middle East and the US role in the region.
Despite Trump’s normalization deals between Israel and Arab states, which excluded Palestinians, these autocratic leaders did not represent their citizens’ aspirations. Biden’s Middle East team has focused on a long-shot deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia, sidestepping Gaza entirely. This is surprising, given that the 2021 Israel-Hamas conflict should have emphasized Palestine’s continued centrality to Middle East affairs.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains dire, with Israel and Egypt monitoring all entry and exit, causing severe restrictions on movement. The territory has been under blockade since Hamas took control in 2007, hindering reconstruction efforts following repeated Israeli bombardments.
The Biden administration’s commitment to a Palestinian state has yet to translate into meaningful action, exposing the hollowness of the two-state solution.
Hamas’s breach of security barriers signifies resistance to the occupation, resonating throughout the Arab world. Gaza, often described as an open-air prison, remains a humanitarian crisis. While Israel faces loss and danger, Palestinians in Gaza will endure further violence. Pressure on Palestinians assumes their insignificance and tolerance for humiliation, which is far from the truth.
To address this ongoing crisis, a shift towards justice, equality, and an end to apartheid, occupation, and siege is essential. The current horrors underscore the urgent need for change.