Israel's Targeted Assassinations Harm Ceasefire Efforts

 

Global protests and internal dissent has not stopped Israel's war on Gaza. Complicating the situation is the policy of targeted assassination. The murder of Ismail Haniyeh in Iran only complicated matters. Khaled Mashal succeeded him after the assassination. The revelation that hostages in Gaza were killed caused protests in Israel. The protests are not for peace or anti-war causes. Rather it is about removing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu . If Israel continues to assassinate the Hamas leadership having negotiations will be impossible. Six hostages were killed. The accusation is that Hamas did the murders, but considering the bombings of the Gaza Strip Israel may actually kill the remaining hostages. The claim was that the war was to save hostages. Then the real objective was exposed. Regime change was decided upon in the Gaza Strip with annexation ending the process. Simultaneously, there is more violence in the West Bank. Hamas does not have control in that area, but it is being subject to military operations. Hamas is being used for the justification of expanding Israel's borders. Khaled Mashal could also fall victim to assassination. Hamas has not made an attempt to attack Israeli leaders. As causalities mount and territory gets absorbed this is not a war fought for defense. A campaign is underway to create Greater Israel. Hamas is surviving with the help of Hezbollah and by relation Iran. Targeted assassinations escalate conflict in a volatile region.      

Israel Declares War On The Gaza Strip

 

Israel has declared war on the Gaza Strip. This is in response to a surprise attack and the capture of hostages. The motivation for violence can be revealed in Likud Party policy. The desire to expand territory and settlements explains the Israeli aggression. Hamas attacked due to the fact most Palestinians live in a prison like atmosphere. The real fear is that another Intifada is on the horizon.   Subject to a blockade and occupation means there is no possible way to live as an equal. The Benjamin Netanyahu government makes it clear Arabs are not welcomed in the Zionist state. This is not a war against Hamas, rather against Palestinians. The current conflict could be a pathway to annexing both the Gaza Strip and West Bank. These will not be areas under occupation, but full absorbed into the Zionist framework. The recent aggression has caused reactions in the region. Saudi Arabia is reconsidering normalizing relations with Israel. Jordan was expressing its frustration with Israel prior to the conflict. There have been claims that Iran was the instigator in the recent Gaza war. No evidence has been provided for this assertion. If the conflict continues it could escalate into a regional war. Such a conflict could be on the scale of the Six Day War or Yom Kippur War. The policy  settler colonialism has created more conflict and instability in the Middle East. If the West Bank and Gaza Strip are to be fully absorbed, this means more refugees will come into Jordan. The Golan Heights might also face a similar threat of being merged into Israel. A possible intervention of Hezbollah could change the situation. Israel probably not be able to fight both Hamas and Hezbollah simultaneously for a long war. The war also has another consequence in Israel's internal politics. The Gaza war provides Prime Minister Netanyahu a convenient distraction for his criminal trials and the efforts related to judicial reform.