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Israel-Gaza war
CommentWorld
Syed Munir Khasru
Syed Munir Khasru

Opinion | Amid Israel’s siege, Hamas scores victories beyond the battlefield

  • Palestinian militants have made significant geopolitical strides since the outbreak of war in October
  • The conflict has posed diplomatic challenges for Israel and triggered hostilities throughout the region

Reading Time:3 minutes
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On February 5, a woman in the Burj al-Barajneh refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon walks past posters depicting Yahya Sinwar, head of the political wing of Hamas, and Abu Obeida, the masked spokesperson of the Ezzedeen al-Qassam Brigades (Hamas’ armed wing). Photo: AFP
Syed Munir Khasru
As ceasefire talks take place between Israel and Hamas, the possibility of an Israeli ground invasion of Rafah is causing global concern as it could lead to untold human tragedy. Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz stated that Israel may launch a ground offensive unless hostages are released before the month of Ramadan, which is expected to begin on March 10.
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Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians while Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023 resulted in about 1,200 Israeli deaths and up to 250 people being taken hostage. While Hamas is no match for Israel’s overwhelming military prowess, the Gaza war has resulted in significant strides on other fronts due to fallout from the October 7 attack.
Diplomatically, the war has revived discussions on the two-state solution. Traditional allies of Israel – the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom – are advocating for a long-term peace within the framework of a two-state solution.
The UK has expressed a readiness to recognise a Palestinian state and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Israel’s rejection of the two-state solution was unacceptable. US President Joe Biden characterised Israel’s military response as “over the top”, underscoring diplomatic challenges for Israel.
Israel normalised diplomatic ties with several Arab states resulting from the Abraham Accords, brokered by the Trump administration. In the process, the Palestinian cause was pushed to the margins until Hamas’ actions halted further developments for the time being, such as Israel’s pursuit of diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia.
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Strategically, Hamas has successfully expanded the conflict, fuelling broader hostilities in the region. The Houthi attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea and the killing of American soldiers in Jordan, along with retaliatory responses from the US, have elevated the stakes. This has pushed the region into proxy wars, regional disputes, and a multifaceted theatre of hostilities.
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