Never-ending wars
Around 50 people were killed in Israeli attacks on the anniversary of the Gaza war. On the same day, Hamas and Hezbollah launched rocket attacks on the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa. Approximately ten people were injured in the rocket attacks. Israel carried out airstrikes on the southern Lebanon border, Beirut, and near Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza. Despite facing deadly counter-attacks, Hamas is not willing to retreat. Despite 40,000 deaths in the war, Israel shows no willingness to stop the conflict. The West Asian situation is worsening in a way that makes it impossible for anyone to predict when this war will end.
The suffering endured by the people of Gaza within a year is beyond description. More than half of the houses have been reduced to rubble. Except for a few hospitals, all other infrastructure has been destroyed in bombings. Over 20 lakh people are now living in refugee camps and other temporary shelters. Israel has conducted airstrikes on nearly forty thousand targets in Gaza over the past year. Despite multiple requests from countries to stop the war, Israel has not agreed to do so. Interestingly, some nations that outwardly advocate for a ceasefire are covertly providing full support to Israel. Israel has made it clear that it will not stop the war until Hamas's leadership and cadre are fully destroyed.
The world is worried that the ongoing tension- with Lebanon, Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Iran, and others on one side, and Israel on the other- may escalate into a full-blown war, potentially even drawing in the United States, leading to a broader conflict. Iran launched a massive missile attack on Israel on October 1. Israel's Iron Dome defence system neutralized most of the missiles, but some managed to hit Israeli territory. The attack was reportedly in retaliation for Israel's strike on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. Israel has not yet retaliated against Iran, but if it does, the West Asian region may descend into a full-blown war zone. The gravest concern of this era is that wars, once begun, never truly end.
Even if no one ultimately wins or loses in war, ordinary people - especially women and children - bear the brunt of its consequences. Meanwhile, many vultures await to profit from the chaos. Arms dealers are the ones who rejoice the most when wars drag on incessantly. Black market traders tend to exploit and profit more during times of war. Gaza war has also proven that the United Nations has become a mere spectator. India's Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said that the UN has become an onlooker, and it is absolutely true. The Ukraine war is approaching its third year, and the UN has failed to put an end to it. It's time for the world to ponder creating a new, more effective global organization.