Middle East On Edge

The assassination of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah by Israel has plunged the Middle East deeper into turmoil. The reckless Israeli actions have brought the region to the brink of a broader regional war. Nasrallah had earned a legendary reputation as the head of Hezbollah for the past over three decades. In 2006, Hezbollah under him was credited for forcing the retreat of Israel from Lebanon which he termed as a “Divine Viictory”. This had imparted his persona a halo and enigma unlike any other leader in the Arab and Muslim world. This is why his death in an air strike by Israel has evoked deep emotions not just among his dogged followers in Lebanon but also globally. Kashmir too didn’t remain untouched. Soon after the news of his assassination spread, thousands of people poured out on the streets in protest.

The horrendous war began a day after October 7 last year after Palestinian group Hamas staged its unprecedented attack on Israel which shook the Zionist state to the core. Ever since Israel has killed over 41,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and destroyed much of the small strip of land called Gaza. The war is nowhere near the end, despite global calls for a ceasefire. In March, even the United Nations passed a resolution, overwhelmingly supported by 14 out of 15 members, underlining the urgent need for peace and the cessation of hostilities that have ravaged the region. It was a call for humanity, compassion, and the protection of innocent lives in Gaza. But Israel, fully backed by Western powers led by the United States, has refused to listen. After vastly degrading Hamas, Israel has changed its focus to Lebanon, where in the past two weeks, it has wrought havoc, killing not just civilians but also several top leaders of Hezbollah. Nasrallah is the biggest of them all.

In Lebanon also, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has contemptuously dismissed the calls for ceasefire. This means war is not just likely to go on, but also expand, potentially drawing in Iran also. However, Iran, so far, has exercised maximum restraint and privileged regional stability than a knee-jerk reaction, although Israel is trying its best to drag it into the combat. But if the Israeli provocations continue, the region could very well be heading towards a big conflagration whose outcome would be catastrophic not just for the region but the world too. This is why, world needs to act and put an end to this madness. So far, the major western powers have just been making occasional right noises, calling on Israel to ceasefire but actually funding and arming it to lay waste to the region. It is time for world to stop Israel and pull back the Middle East from the brink.

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