Given the ongoing tensions between Israel and neighboring countries like Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, it’s clear that the region is currently in a volatile state. However, despite the recent bombarding of the Gaza Strip and Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israel, it appears that none of the involved parties are actively seeking to escalate the situation any further.
Recently, 34 missiles were launched from southern Lebanon towards Israel, in what many believe was a message that the attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque was a “red line”. There have also been suspected Israeli raids on targets in Syria that are allegedly linked to Iran. However, no party has claimed responsibility for the missile launch, leaving many to wonder who is behind it.
Meanwhile, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has met with Secretary General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, in Beirut. On the Israeli side, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tried to reassure the settlements around Gaza following recent bombings, while also suggesting that he is planning a larger response to the attacks.
Former Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has condemned the actions taken by Israel, stating that it is unacceptable for them to support settlers during incursions. He believes that Arab and international pressure must be applied to Tel Aviv to prevent escalation in the region. Siniora adds that using Lebanon as a platform for launching missiles and sending messages is something that the Lebanese people reject.
International conflicts professor Ibrahim Freihat notes that the current escalation goes beyond just tensions between Israel and Hamas, with increased bombings in Syria and concerns about Iran’s nuclear activity also contributing to the instability. All of these factors are interconnected and must be considered in any efforts to stabilize the region.
In view of the tension in the region and the mutual bombardment between Israel on the one hand and Lebanon, the Gaza Strip and Syria on the other, it seems that the region is on a hot plate.
However, it is reassuring that none of the parties to the conflict wish to ignite the region.
A message from Netanyahu
The bombardment, which was launched from southern Lebanon with about 34 missiles, sent a message that the attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque is a red line, and responded to the successive Israeli raids on Syria, which targeted targets linked to Iran in their entirety.
However, with all this, no one claimed responsibility for launching the missiles, so who launched them?
In the midst of these developments, the head of the political bureau of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, arrived in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, and met with the Secretary General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah.
On the Israeli side, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the heads of the settlements around the Gaza Strip, trying to calm them down, following the recent bombing they were subjected to.
Netanyahu stressed that his forces are operating in open and covert ways in the Gaza Strip.
In the words of the Israeli prime minister, there is a message that he wants to convey to the home and abroad, to the effect that the Israeli response to the bombing operation has not ended yet, and that he is planning something greater than that, especially since Israel has pointed the finger of blame at Hamas and not at anyone else, and the latter refused to do so.
The fall of the Netanyahu government?
In this context, former Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora asserts that “what is happening in Jerusalem is rejected and condemned.”
Siniora stressed, in an interview with Al-Araby from Beirut, that “Israel’s continued protection of settlers during the incursion is unacceptable, and it must be responded to through Arab and international positions that pressure Tel Aviv.”
The former prime minister points out that “every matter must be studied through its effects on the Lebanese situation and on the city of Jerusalem.”
He says, “The use of Lebanon as a platform for launching missiles and sending messages is something that the Lebanese reject.”
He adds, “Lebanon cannot be a place for escalation with Israel, because it is exposed to great risks amid repercussions on the fragile internal security situation.”
Siniora clarifies that “Israel is going through a very difficult situation internally, in the midst of a government division due to the existence of this racist government, which today is in danger of falling.”
Escalation on 3 fronts
For his part, Ibrahim Freihat, a professor of international conflicts at the Doha Institute, believes that “it is wrong to limit the escalation to an Israeli conflict with Hamas, which wants to send messages to Tel Aviv.”
Freihat explained, in an interview with Al-Araby from Doha, that “there is an unprecedented Israeli escalation on 3 fronts, the first in Al-Aqsa through the practices of the extreme right-wing government.”
He says, “The second front is the escalation in Syria and the increased bombing of Iranian centers.”
He adds, “As for the third front, it lies in the Iranian nuclear activity and Tehran’s access to the nuclear load with the high rate of enrichment.”
He continues, “These paths are closely linked, and escalation, when it occurs, cannot be separated from the context of events.”
In conclusion, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East remains a source of concern for the entire international community. The recent exchange of attacks between Israel and neighboring countries has only added to the tension in the region. However, it is important to note that none of the parties involved wish to ignite the conflict further. The recent visit of Ismail Haniyeh to Lebanon and the efforts of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to calm the situation down are both positive developments. Nevertheless, tensions remain high, and the situation is delicate. It remains to be seen how events will unfold, but it is clear that a peaceful resolution must be sought to avoid further escalation on multiple fronts.