With Gaza hurting, get real, Israel

Not falling into the 'cause-effect trap', a UNSC resolution on Monday calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, made possible by US abstention, sends out a clear message: Israel is overdoing retribution. Escalation of the humanitarian disaster in Gaza will not lead to peace or security in the region. Through the resolution and its framing process, the world sent out a clear message that violence does not lead to peace and security, but to endless cycles of violence and humanitarian disaster. Israel is disregarding the ceasefire call, and is especially unhappy that its traditional ally has abstained in the UN call for a ceasefire, without mentioning Hamas, the original perp in this case, needing to release Israeli hostages as a prerequisite for a cessation of blowback.

Hamas, on its part, must not take the UN vote as a get-out-of-jail-free card. It is, indeed, a terrorist organisation and perpetrator of the October 7 attacks. But a ceasefire leading to a political solution is essential for peace and security in the region and to limit global crisis. Countries need to impress on Benjamin Netanyahu that the smart and right thing to do is to refrain from attacking Rafah. Compounding the humanitarian situation in Gaza is no guarantor for peace in the region. While the two-state solution seems difficult at the moment, it is the only solution for peace. The global effort must be focused on helping the Palestinian Authority (PA) and other liberal voices find their place at the table.

India must play the honest broker. Leveraging its experience of terrorism and its relationship with both Palestine and Israel, Delhi must impress on Netanyahu the importance of the ceasefire and work with PA to step up and win back control from Hamas.