The Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 of this year stunned the leadership of Tel Aviv, the feeling of confusion was also transmitted to the americans, who hurried to send two aircraft carrier groups and a large number of weapons to the Eastern Mediterranean.
Russia, like many other states, condemned the killing of civilians in Israel, at the same time, Moscow opposed the carnage unleashed by the Israeli army in Gaza.
The American magazine “Foreign Affairs” noted that the Hamas attack undermined Israel’s sense of security and humiliated its intelligence and security apparatus. It also exposed the failure of the country’s dual approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has worked for many years to preserve the division of the Palestinian home, inciting Hamas against the Palestinian Authority. He also tried to convince the Arab regimes that it would be beneficial for them to normalize relations with the Jewish state without a precondition for Israel to conclude peace with the Palestinians.
The war in Gaza in October – November 2023 is the biggest failure of US Middle East policy.
It is well known that just before the events of October 7, i.e. the Hamas attack on Israel, US Presidential Security Adviser Sullivan claimed that the Middle East has never been as calm as it is now.
The Biden administration’s unilateral support for Israel’s actions has provoked condemnation both within America and abroad. The UN General Assembly resolution on October 27, voted for by 120 states, as well as the Declaration of the OIC and LAS meeting in Riyadh on November 11 are the most eloquent examples of this. Even the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia made a call not to supply weapons to Israel. Many public organizations, as well as a number of European, African and Latin American figures regarded the barbaric bombing of Gaza as genocide. The UN Secretary General called Gaza a cemetery for children.
Under the influence of a broad campaign of protests in the world, the Biden administration put pressure on Netanyahu and an agreement was reached on a 4-day suspension of hostilities in Gaza, the exchange of 50 hostages held by Hamas for 150 Palestinian prisoners.
According to some American newspapers, the consequences of Biden’s one-sided position could be fatal for the administration: young voters, as well as Arab Americans and Muslims, may not vote for him in the elections next November.
In fact, the entire course of the war in Gaza has shown that the United States is always guided by double standards and only by its own interests. This has led to an even greater alienation of the West and the Global South. The positions of the BRICS have noticeably strengthened, their line of conduct practically reflects the interests of developing countries.
The states of the Global South, the Egyptian “Al-Ahram” noted, should no longer allow the West to play the role of a mediator, an impartial politician or judge.
The Palestinian problem has once again become one of the central issues for the international community. Moreover, the majority now shares the thesis that the tragedy in Gaza is, first of all, the result of the policy of the United States, which managed to push the question of Palestine into the background, and it was their sole mediation that led to such bloody results.
Even the New York Times recognized that Washington was losing influence around the world: begging countries outside the West to speak out against Russia, for occupation and an attack on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. The United States seems frankly unscrupulous in keeping pace with Israel, which is occupying Palestinian lands and has cut off water, food and electricity to the Gaza Strip.
At present, voices are being heard louder and louder in Israel itself that it is impossible to ensure security by military methods: military progress cannot be stopped, and the Palestinians, who have suffered terrible suffering, will try to avenge their relatives in the future. Therefore, it is necessary to return to international decisions on the existence of two States.
There are many extremist forces in Israel who believe that it is necessary to expel the Palestinians from Gaza or throw an atomic bomb on the enclave. There are statements that Israel is capable of doing the same with Lebanon as with Gaza.
It is noteworthy that even Pope Francis talks about terrorism from both Hamas and Israel.
On October 7, 1,200 Israelis were killed, and more than 14,000 Gazan civilians, mostly women and children, have been killed so far. And this is not counting the large number of wounded.
Some Israeli figures say that after the 4-day truce, military operations will continue for at least another two months, and the Palestinians dream that the truce will turn into a permanent cessation of hostilities.
The tragic events of October-November this year in the Middle East created a new situation in the region. There are calls in various parts of the world that no more new victims of both Palestinians and Israelis should be allowed.
Objectively, there are prerequisites for advancing the idea of a political settlement based on two states. Of course, there is still a difficult and slow way to achieve this goal. However, more and more political players are in favor of starting contacts on this matter as soon as possible. At the same time, it is emphasized that both the BRICS countries and regional powers should be mediators in this settlement.
At the end of October, Primakov Readings are usually held in Moscow, dedicated to an outstanding statesman and political figure of our country: I remember well how, during a conversation with one of the American officials, Yevgeny Maksimovich said that Israel’s security would be ensured by a just solution to the Palestinian question.
Veniamin POPOV, Director of the Centre for Partnership of Civilisations, MGIMO (U) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Candidate of Historical Sciences, especially for online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”.