Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Will Middle East Attain Peace?

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Will Middle East Attain Peace?

The deadliest conflict in fifteen day since July 8, between Israel and the Palestinians has killed 635 Palestinians, many of them civilians, and 3,640 civilian so far have been injured, according to Gaza's Health Ministry in response to Israel’s minimum life loss of about 31. The world over witnessed aerial raids continued shelling in civilian enclaves by Israeli gunship helicopters and jets in retaliation for several rockets fired by Hamas Palestinian side. On the other hand the Gaza strip residential enclave rendered the focal target site; hence huge numbers of Palestinians have fled their homes since July 8, which is estimated to be more than 100,000 people seeking shelter in 69 schools run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.

This is deliberate atrocity and violation of war laws, given direct bombardments on the civilian populations, are recorded. Undoubtedly, it is the worst human tragedy where several hundred thousand unarmed civilians are bombed, goes unnoticed in the greater part of the world. The unfounded hastening observed to subside the widely flickering flame of hostility, is not the same for many other less burning issues, devoid of resting to rhetoric of condemnation. A Gaza-based human rights group says more than 80 percent of them were civilians.

The deadened world, finally unzipped their lips, as Israel’s blatant brutality received condemnation from selective part of the world. In the meanwhile the diplomatic efforts to install truce has gathered pace, as the US Secretary of State John Kerry has called on the Palestinian group, Hamas, to accept a ceasefire along the lines of an Egyptian proposal, to end the raging Gaza conflict. Elsewhere, the general secretary of united nation paid a visit to Israeli’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, to negotiate the installment of peace and urgency to end the ongoing bloodshed.

However, bold initiatives were taken by Egypt to make rivals come to cease-fire. Previously, Egypt had communicated with all sides to halt violence against civilians and called on them to continue with the truce agreement signed in November 2012, notwithstanding; these efforts couldn’t materialize subsequent to Hamas turning down the possibility of a truce. Hamas, the movement that rules Gaza, had rejected initial Egyptian efforts for a full ceasefire, saying it had not been included in the discussions.

Unknowingly this very stubborn stance of Hamas owns has earned ill-fortune for hapless Palestinians facing the brunt of atrocities. Hamas turns down the possibility of any truce until their demands are met, which turns to be the release of their imprisoned fellows held captive by Israel and do off the blockade of Israeli and Egyptian border. The Israeli prime minister said that the international community must hold Hamas accountable for consistently rejecting multiple ceasefire proposals.

Hamas’s stance seems not to be rational, hence can be considered equal partaker in the ongoing tragedy, where the innocent Palestinian renders to be the losers only. Hamas must have demonstrated rational discourse, opting more congenial course of action, or should have come out of civilian population whilst continuing their operation against the Israeli offensive. The civilian shield is unjustifiable act, the Hamas militia is pursuing. Nevertheless, to save casualties, the international community should intensify efforts to affect an immediate ceasefire. 

Reportedly, the Israel showed resolute stance having started ground offensive against the Hamas militias, whereby civilian shield will offer countless sacrifices. It is undoubtedly stated that, if the cease-fire doesn’t crystallize more human losses should be expected. One can’t assume peace and tranquility in the Middle East, as long as the multifaceted Palestine-Israel conflict doesn’t take a decisive turn. 

Factually stating, the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis is a about the right to self- determination, statehood and territory. It is also about national, religious and cultural identity. For more than 65 years there have been conflicts between Palestinian nationalism and the Jewish national movement: Zionism. The six day war in 1967 resulted in the Israeli army occupying territories in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights and separating Palestinian communities living there. Israeli settlements were and are built and the Palestinians endured violence and discrimination. The world kept mum over lengthened unilateral aggression.

The Israeli- Palestinian conflict has led to massive violations of human rights and humanitarian law, as well as a culture of fear, abuse, oppression and repeated violent attacks. Several peace agreements and diplomatic attempts have not been able to resolve the conflict. Years of abuse, oppression, powerlessness and despair have caused some Palestinians to participate in direct violence, as they see this as the only effective method of resistance that has been counterproductive.


A ‘separation wall’ has been built by the occupying force in an attempt to secure parts of the West Bank for Israeli civilians. However, the separation wall, labeled the ‘apartheid wall’ by Palestinians, has been an obstacle to peace building and is perpetuating the conflict for both Israelis and Palestinians. The wall is preventing cooperation and the development of relationships necessary to build peace. It is contributing to the creation of an enemy image of ‘the other’ by both, physically and symbolically dividing Israeli and Palestinian people.

An important way that Palestinians can participate in conflict transformation is through resistance based on nonviolence and civil disobedience. Nonviolence has been defined as a set of attitudes, actions or behaviors intended to persuade the other side to change their opinions, perceptions and actions. It uses peaceful means in order to strive for the goal of peace with justice. Nonviolence has been strongly promoted by Gandhi referring to it as a ‘people power’ movement. Such nonviolent methods might include demonstrations, sit-ins in the streets, joint marches and protests with Israeli peace forces at checkpoints, strikes, boycotting Israeli products, withdrawing deposits from Israeli banks, withholding taxes, continuing to harvest olives, educating about the impact and nature of the occupation and publishing leaflets.


The purpose of nonviolent action is to force the Israeli occupation to withdraw and to prevent further oppression. Although this method can be challenging, costly and difficult, it might bring the Palestinians closer to achieving their goal over time. When engaging in nonviolent activity, Palestinians protest against the injustice that they suffer and aim to make obvious injustice to all parties to the conflict as well as the international community. Due to gradual loss of resources and sympathy, nonviolent action might challenge the sustainability of the Israeli occupation.

Asmatyari is the permanent writer of Daily Outlook Afghanistan. He can be reached at asmatyari@gmail.com.

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