A note on Israel- Gaza conflict and hypocrisy of world power

 the world has seen more deaths and violence not to mention the indifference of those who claim to hold a compass of morality while dealing with the world but this time it makes for more absurd observations. It may look sudden, but the conflict between Israel and Hamas has been lingering for the last couple of years. The political instability within Israel, The coalition of far-right Zionist parties with that of Netanyahu, and the government's push to bring in a judicial overhaul to protect the long-standing prime minister from conviction over corruption charges and disturbing Palestinian lives regularly has already created clouds of apprehension surrounding delicately held peace in West Asia.

the world has been witnessing all this but refused to acknowledge anything for obvious strategic reasons. Now after the death of 9000 children(actual numbers are not clear), the world is showcasing its hollow commitment to peace in a region known to be a playground for great power rivalries. we have witnessed the Ukraine-Russia conflict but nowhere the violence was so extreme and visible as in Gaza. USA's unhinged support to Israel despite the brutality shown by defense forces is nothing short of vindicating its own hypocrisy. India, as always not doing anything substantial and only coming up with 'words of support' for Israel and calling for 'peaceful coexistence of both Israel and Palestine' does not really reflect the claims being made by supporters of its foreign policy who think of India as Vishwaguru. Surprisingly Russia, a country that indulged in conflict on its borders is calling for a ceasefire in Gaza while world's oldest democracy ie USA is adamant in supporting the frantic prime minister Netanyahu.  

war as said is necessary so that evil gathered inside us would release and provide space for peace. Can we really stop the bloodshed, is it a political sphere or a more psychological arena of human life that has the answer to this craving of blood. revenge gives us a sense of relief that something has come to an end. Do we have a substitute for revenge as a strategy to deal with one's grief? even in our interpersonal relationships, can't we live without taking revenge? is forgiveness a good alternative for revenge? or as Rene Girard gives an alternative of finding a scapegoat to reduce bloodshed is way out but make no mistake it's the sight of blood that makes revenge more powerful than any other method of dealing with suffering. Israel found that scapegoat is Gaza, but it has yet to quench the thirst for blood. 

As we witness this conflict, we are made to realize the frailty of political compromises in face of basic human nature. we can not have peace which is guaranteed only by political leadership and not substantiated by taking into account people for whom peace is being talked about. I can not find a better solution than 'conversing' , taking head on the differences and talking about them without hasting about answers. some questions do not need answers, what they need is people to come and talk. 

on the more strategic note, disturbed West Asia is not good for any non-China alliance including the recently signed India - Middle East - Europe corridor. The efforts of realizing Abraham accord also are hanging in unpredictable territory. Even the long-awaited normalization of US and Iran would not take shape if political leadership in Israel went on bombing Gaza. 

So whether its strategy or human life, both have been lost in Gaza and its handling by world powers. We might not be able to do anything today but India when and if becomes a world power should not forget on what grounds it will play the game of international relations and what cost we as human beings are ready to pay for that great game to be played out