A Covert Proxy War: Reading Between Israel-Hamas Hostilities
Today, the geopolitical landscape is predominantly divided into two major blocs. One is spearheaded by the USA and its European allies, and the other is led by a coalition of China and Russia.
The recent hostilities between Israel and Hamas can be interpreted as a covert proxy war between these two major factions. Let me elucidate.
There’s unequivocal evidence pointing to Israel’s robust backing from the USA and Europe. This support isn’t limited to diplomatic rhetoric alone; it’s materialized through the provision of heavy weaponry and substantial resources to Israel.
On the other side of the conflict, when Hamas initiated its assault on Israel on 7th October, it wielded an array of weaponry. The pertinent question arises: Where were these weapons sourced? They were decidedly not of local origin, mirroring the fact that Israel’s heavy arsenal isn’t indigenous.
I postulate that these weapons were supplied by either China, Russia, or both, potentially routed through allies like Iran or Syria, which are overtly pro-China and pro-Russia.
While concrete evidence might be scant, circumstantial evidence offers some compelling insights:
- Border Security: The border between Israel and Gaza is tightly guarded by the Israeli military, so tightly that an Israeli general said that even a fox cannot get through. There is an Iron Dome erected by Israel. How then could hundreds of Hamas fighters get through, not only on the ground but even by air? Obviously, some modern, highly industrialised foreign countries supplied them with the technology for doing this, and these countries could not be Iran or Syria (though they could have been conduits) as they are technically backward.
- Modern Weaponry: Hamas employed rockets, bulldozers, paragliders, among other state-of-the-art weaponry. Such armaments, undoubtedly not manufactured locally in Gaza (though potentially assembled there), indicate their origin from technologically progressive nations.
- Proxy Warfare in the Nuclear Age: In an era dominated by nuclear arsenals, superpowers are reluctant to engage directly. Instead, they favor indirect, covert operations, deploying foreign agents as their pawns. Both Israel and Hamas fit this mold.
- The Ukraine Factor: The US and Europe have been steadfast in their support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Such dynamics might spur Russia to retaliate.
With hostilities enduring for eight days, resulting in devastating casualties and extensive property damage, there’s looming apprehension about potential escalation to neighboring regions. The situation, to put it mildly, is fraught with peril.
