The Emerging of Hamas War
The present intensification in the hostilities between Israel and Hamas, commonly known as the Hamas War, can be attributed to underlying factors that can be traced back to the enduring Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This conflict is an intricate and diverse matter that encompasses various stakeholders, including the conflicting parties, regional powers, and international organizations. The genesis of Hamas can be traced back to 1987, in the aftermath of the First Intifada, a sequence of Palestinian uprisings characterized by acts of violence. The primary objective of Hamas was to secure the liberation of Palestine from Israeli domination. Hamas identifies itself as a resistance movement that is engaged in combat against what it considers as Israeli tyranny and the infringement upon the rights of the Palestinian people.
Within the present framework, the latest acts of aggression perpetrated by Hamas signify a notable intensification as compared to other instances of confrontation. The organization executed an unparalleled, multifaceted offensive against Israel, encompassing aerial, maritime, and terrestrial maneuvers that were initiated from the Gaza Strip. The aforementioned assault exhibited a very strategic design and caught the nation of Israel off guard. During the course of these attacks, Hamas militants successfully detained a significant number of Israeli individuals as hostages. The precise number of hostages remains unverified.
Hamas designated their military campaign as ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’, highlighting its perception of Israeli actions as sacrilegious towards a significant Islamic sanctuary located in Jerusalem. This observation suggests that religious elements are also influential in the conflict. Moreover, Hamas vehemently opposes the Oslo peace accords that were signed by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) during the mid-1990s. The organization has officially dedicated itself to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within its recognized boundaries. It has pursued this objective by engaging in acts of aggression against Israeli military personnel, settlers, and civilians, both within the occupied Palestinian territory and within the borders of Israel.
To begin with, it is crucial to comprehend that the struggle is fundamentally grounded in historical, political, and theological contentions. Hence, it is imperative for any resolution process to effectively tackle these fundamental concerns. This encompasses the acknowledgment of the respective entitlements of both parties to coexist and reside in a state of tranquility, the creation of borders that are mutually accepted, the determination of Jerusalem’s legal standing, and the entitlement of Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland. The President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has restated the notion that violence should not be considered as a means to achieve settlement. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has conveyed its readiness to assume the role of a diplomatic mediator, with the expectation that both parties involved will recognize the significance of engaging in discussion. This observation suggests that diplomatic negotiations and peace talks are widely seen as essential components in the process of resolving conflicts.
Nevertheless, the process of these conversations is frequently hindered by several external variables. Analogously, the involvement of Iran in the conflict has been compared to that of a Russian nesting doll. The conflict in Ukraine has resulted in significant shifts in geopolitical alliances, thereby providing Tehran with the assurance of support from influential allies, primarily in terms of diplomatic protection. This observation underscores the significant impact that regional and international politics can exert on the dynamics of the conflict and the subsequent process of resolving it. Furthermore, it is worth noting that Hamas advocates for military resistance, whilst Fatah has actively advocated for engaging in discussions as a means to resolve the situation. The two forces have consistently engaged in a protracted conflict over territorial control throughout the previous few decades. Several attempts to reach a resolution for the conflict have failed. This highlights the intra-factional rifts within the Palestinian leadership and its potential ramifications for the progress of the peace negotiations. The situation remains tense and complex, with both sides suffering significant casualties and damage. The international community has expressed concern over the escalating violence and called for an immediate ceasefire. However, achieving a lasting peace will require addressing the root causes of the conflict, including issues related to territorial disputes, refugees, security, political control, and mutual recognition.
The convening of an emergency meeting by the United Nations Security Council in response to the ongoing violence between Hamas and Israeli forces has resulted in an inability to achieve consensus on a single statement. The issuance of a resolution by the United Nations Security Council on May 10, 2021, signifies its appeal for an expeditious cessation of hostilities and its denouncement of acts of aggression targeting non-combatants. The United Nations has yet to provide a specific conflict resolution pertaining to the Hamas War that aligns with the principles of humanitarian law. The esteemed UN Human Rights Council has taken the initiative to commence an investigation into the regrettable incidents of violence that transpired during the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas in 2021. Nevertheless, the resolution failed to explicitly mention either Hamas or Israel. In the year 2022, the United Nations Human Rights Council made the decision to initiate an investigation characterized by acts of violence, pertaining to the ongoing conflict between the State of Israel and the Palestinian organization known as Hamas. The convening of an emergency meeting by the United Nations Security Council in reaction to the violence between Hamas and Israeli forces has resulted in an inability to find a consensus on a joint statement. In the interim, Indonesia has called upon the United Nations to implement tangible measures in order to cease Israeli military offensives in Gaza and extend support for the attainment of Palestinian sovereignty. Muhammadiyah has articulated its stance about the battle between Hamas and Israeli troops, advocating for individuals to engage in prayer for the war’s victims and to adhere to and execute the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council as a means of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.
International Humanitarian Law (IHL) comprises a collection of regulations that govern the behavior observed during armed conflicts, with the primary objective of mitigating the impact of such conflicts on individuals who are not actively engaged in combat, including civilians and medical staff. Hamas is obligated to adhere to the standards of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which establish the parameters of permissible and banned actions in times of armed conflict. The research published by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs highlights the violation of various norms of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) by Hamas in the course of its confrontation with Israel. These violations encompass the deliberate launching of rockets from civilian areas and the employment of human shields. The research further highlights that acts of terrorism are specifically proscribed by international humanitarian law (IHL) treaties, as are acts or threats of violence that aim primarily to instill fear among the civilian population. In summation, the resolution of the Hamas War necessitates a comprehensive and holistic approach that not only attends to the immediate manifestations of violence but also delves into the underlying factors that have contributed to its emergence. The matter at hand encompasses the intricate realm of diplomatic negotiations, necessitating astute regional cooperation, while simultaneously grappling with the imperative task of addressing the internal divisions that persist within the esteemed Palestinian leadership. Furthermore, the attainment of success in this endeavor is contingent upon the unwavering support of the international community. Nevertheless, in light of the intricate nature of these matters and the inherently unstable circumstances at hand, the attainment of a durable state of tranquility continues to present itself as a formidable undertaking.
