My interpretation of the Israel-Hamas conflict
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| Justice Katju's interpretation of the Israel-Hamas conflict |
By Justice Markandey Katju
Today the world stands divided broadly between two blocs, one headed by USA and some European powers, and the other by a China-Russia combination.
To my mind the ongoing Israel-Hamas hostilities are really a covert proxy war between these two blocs. Let me explain.
As regards Israel being backed by USA and Europe there can be no doubt about it. The latter support Israel not just in rhetoric, they supply it also with all Israel's heavy weapons and several other material things.
As regards Hamas, when it attacked Israel on 7th October, it used a variety of weapons.
Where did these weapons come from? Surely they were not locally manufactured ( just as Israel's heavy weapons are not locally manufactured).
My hunch is these came from China or Russia (or both) possibly via Iran or Syria (which are known to be pro-Russia and pro-China).
There may not be any direct evidence of this, but there is also such a thing as circumstantial evidence. These are the following:
1. 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.
2. The Hamas fighters used rockets, bulldozers, paragliders, and other modern weapons for their operation. These again could not have been locally manufactured in Gaza (though they could have been assembled there), which indicates they were made in some technically advanced country.
3. In today's world of nuclear weapons, the big powers will not fight directly but covertly and indirectly through their foreign agents. Both Israel and Hamas are such agents
4. USA and Europe have been supporting Ukraine in the war with Russia. Obviously, the Russians would like to hit back.
The fighting has been going on for 8 days now, with huge casualties and destruction of property. One wonders whether it will escalate to neighbouring countries. The prospects are fearful.
(Justice Katju is a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India. These are his personal views.)
