PM Expresses Solidarity with Israel amidst Conflict

On 7^th October, 2023, India’s Prime Minister extended his support to Israel as Hamas launched land, sea, and air attacks from the Gaza Strip.

Key Points

PM Modi's Solidarity: Thousands of rockets from Gaza hit southern and central Israel, prompting Mr. Modi's message of support for the nation.
Embassy's Safety Advisory: The Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, has issued safety guidelines for Indian nationals.
India and Israel share close relations in areas such as security, defence, and technology.
Challenges of Religious Tourism: Israel is a significant destination for global religious tourism, hosting biblical and Muslim holy sites.
Indian pilgrims often navigate through territories and checkpoints controlled by both Israeli and Palestinian authorities.
Safety Concerns for Bnei Menashe: Israel has a significant population of Bnei Menashe members from India's northeastern region, who were granted Israeli citizenship under a special scheme.
Air India Flight Cancellation: Due to the ongoing conflict and active conflict zone airspace over Israel, Air India's New Delhi-Tel Aviv flight has been canceled.

Israel-Palestine Conflict Overview

The Israel-Palestine conflict is a long-standing dispute rooted in historical claims to identity and land, with Jerusalem at its epicentre.
1948 Arab-Israel War: In the initial Arab-Israeli war of 1948, Israel seized the western part of Jerusalem, while Jordan occupied the eastern part, which was later captured and annexed by Israel.
East Jerusalem Settlements: Since then, Israel has expanded its settlements in East Jerusalem. The Palestinians aspire to establish East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.
Differing Perspectives: Israel regards Jerusalem as its unified and eternal capital, while Palestinian leadership insists on East Jerusalem's recognition as the capital of their envisioned state, resisting any compromise.
Sheikh Jarrah Eviction Threat: Palestinians in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem face the risk of eviction, with their land slated for transfer to Jewish settlers.
Al-Aqsa Mosque Tensions: Recent Israeli military actions, including the assault on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, ahead of a Zionist nationalist march, triggered widespread concern among followers and calls for its defence by radicals.
Hamas and Recent Tensions: Hamas, the largest Palestinian militant Islamist group, was formed in 1988 during the first Palestinian intifada.
It is committed to the destruction of Israel and carries out both armed resistance and social welfare programs.

Deepening Occupation and Escalating Violence

The Israel-Palestine relationship has seen a continuous deterioration.
Israel conducts frequent military operations in the occupied West Bank, escalating the tensions.
The year has witnessed significant casualties on both sides, with Israeli raids in Jenin and a raid on Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque compound, followed by rocket attacks from Gaza and Israeli airstrikes.
This consistent violence and lack of a peace process have fuelled anger among Palestinians, both against Israeli occupation and the Palestinian Authority.

Hamas Capitalizing on Public Anger

Hamas's massive attack from Gaza, calling on all Palestinians, including Israeli Arab citizens, to take up arms against Israel, aims to leverage this public anger against occupation
It seeks to position itself as the primary advocate for the Palestinian cause amid the absence of a viable peace process.

Divisions in Israeli Society

Israel is undergoing internal challenges with its right-wing government attempting to consolidate power.
Efforts to curtail the judiciary's authority have triggered protests, including participation from military reservists.
This internal division may have led Hamas to perceive Israel as vulnerable, providing an opportunity to launch a significant attack from Gaza and potentially incite more resistance violence in the West Bank.

Geopolitical Considerations

Hamas's attack coincides with advanced normalization talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Crown Prince’s remarks about progress in these talks indicate shifting dynamics in the region.
Such normalization could affect Hamas's position adversely, particularly as Saudi Arabia is a significant player in the Arab world.
This development may not align with the interests of Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah, both of which support Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
They welcomed the Hamas operation, potentially complicating the prospects for an immediate Saudi-Israel normalization deal.