Uma Miskinyar
Introduction
On October 7, 2023, the ongoing Israel-Palestine situation escalated into a state of unrest, unleashing a wave of violence and suffering that has deepened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, leaving thousands vulnerable and igniting profound international concern. Hamas’ attack on Israel resulted in devastation and escalated tensions to unprecedented heights, resulting in over 1,300 Israeli deaths and several retaliatory strikes that devastated much of Gaza. This marked a significant moment in the long-standing oppression of the Palestinian people, as it not only transformed the landscape of Israeli-Palestinian relations but also drew the attention of global powers and humanitarian organizations alike, intensifying calls for aid and intervention.
The United States government is providing steadfast diplomatic, financial, and military support for the Israeli government’s ongoing targeting of Hamas, an effort that has led to the deaths of thousands of innocent Palestinian citizens. Some countries, such as South Africa, have gone as far as accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians. A steadfast and ardent backer of the Jewish state for many decades, having been the first nation to recognize the state of Israel's provisional government upon its formation in 1948, the United States has provided over 80 million dollars of economic aid and over 230 billion dollars in military aid to Israel. Maintaining their relationship as allies, the U.S.’s current goal of its funding to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is to eliminate Hamas and allow Israel to exercise its right to defend itself.
Humanitarian Crisis: A Deeper Look
Every state holds the inalienable right to defend itself from threats, yet the global response to Israel's actions has been complex, marked by both sorrow and incredulity. As the world witnesses the loss of an estimated 186,000 civilian lives, both direct and indirect causes of the war weigh heavily on the conscience of members of the public. With essential supplies like food and water cut off and borders tightly sealed, the United Nations is struggling to deliver much-needed aid, which has left some members of the public questioning the collective morality of mankind. Meanwhile, decades of U.S. and Israeli impunity for violations of international law have led domestic courts to abandon their duty, leaving the most vulnerable populations exposed to the harsh realities of state power and abuse, and for the Palestinians, the history of the campaign against those in Palestine goes beyond October 7th.
In the absence of accountability or even the most elemental commitment to international norms, one could argue that collectively, as the Israeli and U.S. war machines rage on while violating international law, both entities have the capacity to threaten not only the lives of people from Palestine, but also the lives of those in Lebanon, Iran, Yemen, and Syria– especially since there have already been efforts to degrade their collective humanity.
It is worth noting that the situation in Palestine dates back to 1948, following the creation of the Israeli state. The founding of Israel was a direct product of the inception of the Nakba, where 750,000 Palestinians—over 80% of the population living in the region that would become the State of Israel—were expelled or fled from their homes and became refugees, sparking the first Arab-Israeli war. Since then, many dates have been ingrained in history books: the 1956 Suez Crisis, the 1967 Six-Day War, the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the 1979 Camp David Peace Accords, the Oslo Accords of 1993 and 1995, and the military clashes of 2014. These events have culminated in Israel's fierce response in the Gaza Strip, which has escalated into a broader regional escalation.
A 360-Degree Perspective of Israel’s Campaign in Gaza
To put the aggression into perspective, for the Israelis, 1,139 people were killed on October 7th by Hamas and more than one hundred hostages have died. For the Palestinians, 90% of Gaza’s population is displaced, and within ten days of October 7th, 2023, more than 1 million of Gaza’s 2.2 million people had been forced to leave their homes. In the matter of one year, this number has nearly doubled, as now, a greater sum than 1.9 million people are internally displaced. 186,000+ total Palestinians have been killed directly and indirectly by the Israeli onslaught, and this number continues to grow. There are an estimated 12,000 Palestinians whose bodies are missing under the rubble who are not included in the overall death toll. U.S.-backed Israeli military operations after October 7, 2023 against Palestinians in Gaza have only escalated, and seem to show few signs of slowing down.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the international body that declares famine, says that over 500,000 people are suffering from catastrophic hunger and that there is a high risk of famine throughout Gaza. Prior to October 7th, 2023, approximately 80% of Gaza's population needed humanitarian aid.
Outside of Gaza, the war has expanded to areas like the West Bank, which has witnessed a significant escalation in Israeli military operations. Israel has used aerial bombing, ground offensives, drone attacks, military raids, torching and demolition of homes, armored personnel carriers, bulldozers, snipers, curfews, and the operation of military checkpoints in both Gaza and the West Bank.
Additionally, as of March 2023, there were over 700,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Infrastructure in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip cannot adequately support the influx of settlers, both due to their relative land mass and degree of devastation from the war. The Gaza Strip has the same land area as Las Vegas but three times the population, while the West Bank is approximately the size of Delaware and has roughly four times the population, including settlers.
The scale and rapidity of Gaza’s destruction, in particular, is unprecedented, not only in Palestinian history but in recent global history. Much of the indirect deaths from the conflict have stemmed from the damage and destruction of infrastructure. In just the first four months of the war, a report published by the EU, World Bank, and UN estimated that the damages amounted to $18.5 billion, with 60 to 70 percent of all infrastructure being damaged or destroyed. As one example from September 2024, Amnesty International reported that the Israeli military had destroyed or severely damaged 90 percent of the buildings within an area of 22.39 square miles (3,500 structures) in Gaza’s “buffer zone” along the perimeter with Israel.
In other ways, however, one could argue that little has changed fundamentally since October 7th. The violence born from the injustice and fear that has characterized the struggle for a secure future for Palestine and Israel over the past several decades has become more visible and widespread, but it is not entirely new or unexpected. Experts have long warned that, without a lasting peace that would allow all Palestinians and Israelis to live freely, mass violence would inevitably erupt, jeopardizing the future. Experts may have the correct outlook, as the prospective for peace and safety in the region currently appears to be at a level of unparalleled distance.
A Proxy War: The Regional Implications
Israel’s fight against Hamas has now transformed into a proxy war, with its focus shifting to a broader regional battle against Iran and its affiliates. Determined to eliminate Hamas and restore deterrence, Israel has risked regional escalation with Iran despite international criticism and tensions with U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration. While the October 7th attack arguably did not threaten Israel's survival on its own, if such an assault were to be renewed and backed by Iranian proxies like Hezbollah, Israel could face a full-scale multi-front assault that would overwhelm the nation before the U.S. would intervene. Even the current escalation threatens to erode Israel’s economy, exhaust its military, and isolate it both physically and morally in the eyes of the world. As the war drags on, the larger confrontation with Iran appears to be growing increasingly unavoidable.
It is conceivable that the horrors that occurred during Hamas’ October 7th attack, followed by the counterattacks orchestrated and implemented by Israel on Hezbollah, have breached international law, continuing to be felt around the world today. In addition, retaliatory efforts by Hamas also continue the pursuit of what some claim to be ethnic cleansing or genocide. International law does not allow for the justification of ethnic cleansing, though Israeli military operations appear to undermine international law and demonstrate the country’s inability to protect the rights of Palestinian communities. An ethnic cleansing should not set a precedent for Israel's greater expansion, as matters regarding the drawing of defined borders should never be the basis for the extinction of any group of people, and the concept of Israel's "never again" should never draw such parallels again to the present day. Additionally, according to the International Court of Justice, as an occupying force, Israel is obligated to the civilian Palestinian population under international law. The Palestinian demands for self-determination and human dignity lay the foundation for a completely new global reality, where Palestine is not a marginalized counterpart evaded by the notion of Zionism, but instead, a sovereign state that is no longer paying the price through displacement and an outrageously high number of fatalities of its civilians.
On January 26th, 2024, three Palestinian plaintiffs, two from Ramallah and one from Gaza, were called as witnesses to testify about Israel’s killing of their family and community members before Judge White of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. They also testified about their families' mass displacement, the current conditions of life in their homeland under Israel’s siege, and the current conditions of life in their homeland, which are causing widespread starvation. According to Judge White, evidence exists for Israel’s killing of Palestinians in Gaza, along with evidence for the US providing unyielding support for Israel's strikes on civilians in Gaza, which are both illegal under international law. However, the case was reluctantly dismissed by the court due to jurisdictional grounds, ruling that it lacked the power to resolve the case because it implicated executive decision-making in the area of foreign policy.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' three-judge panel upheld the district court's dismissal on July 15th, 2024, despite the plaintiffs' appeal of the court's decision. Those who asked the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to consider the case on August 29th, 2024, cited the Constitution's mandate that the courts judge the legitimacy of the Biden administration's policies. On October 2nd, 2024, almost a year after Israel began its escalation of conflict, the 9th Circuit rejected the petition, declining to step in as a check on the executive branch's abuse of power. The abdication of legal responsibility has far-reaching effects: the U.S. has given Israel more confidence to continue defying international law, which increases the possibility of an even broader escalation in Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Yemen, and other countries in the region, potentially with more authoritative state power and aggressive nature.
The Struggle for Justice and Accountability
The Israeli onslaught against those in Gaza heightens Israel’s dilemma dramatically. Widely held international views blaming Israel, particularly its current government, for the impasse in the Israeli-Palestinian issue undercut the otherwise considerable understanding among Arab, European, and American populations and governments for the threat that Iran and its proxies pose on Israel. Apart from debates over responsibility for the Oslo process’ failure, the reality under international law is that Israel as an occupying state must clarify conditions to end such occupation, and the current Israeli government has failed to do so. At the same time, rage and hopelessness among Palestinians fuel support for Hamas and its rejection of Israel’s existence.
The U.S. and a majority of Arab nations are aware of the roles that both causes play and that both must be addressed for any solutions to be found, whether in Gaza or throughout the region. For instance, an international temporary presence is critical for any resolution in Gaza that goes beyond Israel's permanent occupation or a restoration to Hamas rule. However, the Arab states, who are the main drivers of this presence, want Israel’s territorial expansion to halt permanently. The Arab states’ desire indicates a moral development tied to the recognition of their controversial efforts to target Hamas, urging for a permanent resolution, including an approved ceasefire proposal, as man. Similarly, Israel must agree to a "pathway" to Palestinian self-determination for Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations to join a long-term regional alliance against Iran centered around the Abraham Accords.
Israel's public and security leadership, driven by a "never again" resolve, rejects the pre-October 7th strategies and is forging new paths to stability and deterrence, including reinventing its defense strategy using preventative, tech-driven, and intelligence-led methods. However, the title of the operation targeting Hezbollah's Nasrallah, "Operation New Order," may raise some additional concerns. Israeli leaders have clearly defined objectives with Hamas in Gaza, but they have not set the elimination of Hezbollah as a primary goal. Instead, leaders of Israel aim to restore security at the Israeli-Lebanese border, allowing over 90,000 displaced Israelis to return to their living spaces. Though a ground offensive may be necessary to clear Hezbollah's strongholds in the south, a prolonged occupation would risk entangling Israel in new, shifting objectives. History has shown that Israel's ventures in Lebanon often suffer from overextension—something best avoided currently.
While the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is a significant blow to the group, Hezbollah remains intact. The organization, though weakened, retains a deeply rooted structwith experienced leaders, thousands of fighters, and strong popular support among Lebanese Shia Muslims. Some may argue that it is possible for Hezbollah to regroup and seek revenge for Nasrallah’s death. However, as mandated by UNSCR 1701, a priority for American diplomacy is the disarmament of Hezbollah, which may prevent a potential countermove by Hezbollah, even if such an outcome is unlikely.
Diplomacy in the Balance: Timing and Tactics
Timing is critical for maintaining balance in the area of diplomacy. American diplomatic efforts in the region often work best when the warring sides reach a point where military victory alone is unattainable, which encourages both sides to seek a way out through a potential resolution. Diplomacy proves to be far less effective when initiated prematurely, driven by external pressures for a ceasefire. If the U.S. aims to play a meaningful role, it should follow Kissinger’s approach in 1973—waiting until Israel regains military leverage before stepping in with realistic proposals.
As Israel’s actions deepen and proliferate, Jordan teeters on the brink of collapse, and Iran looms close to open confrontation. With U.S. troop deployments in the Middle East continuing to swell, their involvement in combat steadily rising, which has resulted in American casualties increasing. Furthermore, Yemeni Houthis have now set their sights on U.S. destroyers, a signal flare marking a dangerous new escalation. With the U.S. firmly tied to Israel’s side, regional resentment acts as a ticking time bomb, ready to explode. Even the most supportive governments in the region will likely soon find it difficult to suppress unrest and resentment.
The Tipping Point: Global Reactions and Consequences
It is imperative that the mayhem in the Middle East reaches an end: with global stability at risk, the world has a significant amount at stake to risk a comprehensive war erupting. The Middle East is one of many regions teetering on the brink of war, with the Ukraine-Russia war grinding on, Sudan and the Horn of Africa in chaos, and China casting its eye on Taiwan and the South China Sea. As previously stated, according to international law, Israel must not be allowed to bomb and invade at will while simultaneously dragging the U.S. and other nations into war. Yet, this may be precisely what unfolds unless the U.S. and Western powers make a drastic course correction.
The methods that Israel is employing to combat Hamas can be argued as inefficient, particularly when considering the broader impacts on civilian life and infrastructure in Gaza. A historical parallel can be drawn to the United States’ approach to targeting Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan. The U.S. did not resort to carpet bombing residential areas, schools, hospitals, and mosques while pursuing bin Laden, but instead focused on precision strikes to minimize civilian casualties despite having the right to defend itself.
Similarly, while every state possesses the right to protect its sovereignty and ensure its security, the costs associated with Israel's current strategy arguably harm its long-term goals more than they achieve them. Persistently high civilian casualties and destruction may fuel further resentment and hostility, perpetuating a cycle of violence rather than fostering conditions for lasting peace and stability. The question remains: at what cost does Israel's strategy ultimately succeed—or fail—in its aim of self-defense?
Lessons from History: Avoiding Past Mistakes
One way to avert calamity, save lives, and prevent possible catastrophe is to return to the principles set forth after World War II, which includes supporting the laws and institutions designed to guard against such tragedies and carefully considering what friendship and alliances mean in the context of international politics.
A just and equitable peace with the citizens of Palestine and the rest of the region could ensure security and long-term protection with clear and attainable parameters that establish sovereignty and defined borders peacefully and tactfully. These ideals can be initiated through diplomatic negotiations, mutual respect for national interests, and guarantees of shared security and economic cooperation. With the rest of the world, the U.S. and the West may consider using their significant influence over Israel to put an immediate stop to the hostile military practices and lack of meaningful diplomacy, installing a permanent international peacekeeping force in the West Bank and Gaza to ensure that the Palestinians and Lebanese can rebuild what has been lost.
In light of the ongoing violence in Gaza, the significance of each life is unmistakable. Behind every casualty—whether Palestinian, Israeli, or otherwise—are individual narratives and families significantly impacted. This escalating toll reveals a fundamental moral dilemma: collective humanity is eroded when lives are treated as collateral in pursuit of political or military objectives. Foreign policy serves as a powerful instrument capable of shaping human conditions for better or worse. When nations prioritize strategic interests above humanitarian concerns, they perpetuate cycles of violence and suffering at the expense of innocent lives. Conversely, a foreign policy grounded in compassion and justice can pave the way for lasting peace. By centering diplomacy and collaboration on protecting human rights, governments can cultivate an environment where every life is valued. Thus, foreign policy must not merely serve national interests but also act as a vital mechanism for advancing our shared humanity, affirming that the intrinsic value of each life is fundamental to a just and peaceful world.
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