Update on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict for October 9, 2023

- As US proxy war in Ukraine continues to tip in Russia's favor, armed conflict has broken out between Palestinian-based Hamas militants and Israeli forces;

- Israeli-Palestinian tensions stem from the Israeli government's decades-long occupation of Palestinian territory in violation of international law and laid out specifically in UN resolutions;

- Both Hamas and Israeli forces are currently targeting both military targets and civilians;

-Israel has for decades served the purpose of a foothold for first British then American hegemony in the Middle East;

- Hamas has a problematic background that complicates Palestine's ability to resolve hostilities between it and Israel;

- Hamas has previously served as a proxy along with Israel in the US proxy war against Syria;

- Israel is requesting additional military aid from a depleted United States, limiting its ability to escalate vs. Hamas and within the wider region;

References:

CNN - Israel formally declares war against Hamas as it battles to push militants off its soil (October 8, 2023):

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/08/middleeast/israel-gaza-attack-hostages-response-intl-hnk/index.html

Reuters - U.S. redirecting Israel-stored munitions to Ukraine - New York Times (January 2023):

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/us-sent-israel-stored-munitions-ukraine-new-york-times-2023-01-18/

Defense News - Israel orders tens of thousands of 155mm artillery shells from Elbit (August 2023):

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2023/08/04/israel-orders-tens-of-thousands-of-155mm-artillery-shells-from-elbit/

Elbit Systems - Artillery Ammunition Portfolio:

https://elbitsystems.com/product/artillery-ammunition-portfolio/

NYT - U.S. Speeds Up Bomb Delivery for the Israelis (2006):

https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/22/world/middleeast/22military.html

Background

UN Human Rights, Office of the High Commissioner - Five years after UNSC Resolution 2334, international accountability to end the Israeli occupation is more important than ever (December 2021):

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2021/12/five-years-after-unsc-resolution-2334-international-accountability-end#:~:text=Resolution%202334%2C%20adopted%20by%20the,“immediately%20and%20completely%20cease.%22

Reuters - Hamas ditches Assad, backs Syrian revolt (2012):

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-palestinians-idUSTRE81N1CC20120224

BBC - Gaza fighters head to Syria as refugees flow in (2013):

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-25362202

Reuters - Hamas to restore Syria ties after 10 years of dispute, sources say (2022):

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hamas-restore-syria-ties-after-10-years-dispute-sources-say-2022-06-21/

FT - Egypt cut ties to Assad regime and calls for support of rebels (2013):

https://www.ft.com/content/8088e7f6-d685-11e2-9214-00144feab7de

Al Jazeera - Egypt’s Sisi expresses support for Syria’s military (2016):

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/11/23/egypts-sisi-expresses-support-for-syrias-military

Reuters - Russia calls on Israel and Palestinians to cease fire (October 7, 2023):

https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-calls-israel-palestinians-cease-fire-2023-10-07/

Bloomberg - China Reiterates Two-State Solution Needed for Israel, Palestine (October 8, 2023):

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-08/china-reiterates-two-state-solution-needed-for-israel-palestine