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Tagged: Fattah-2 Hypersonic Missile, Iran, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards, Israel, Israel-Iran, Israel-Palestine conflict, Middle East, Palestine
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Israel-Palestine Conflict
Posted by Sreenivasulu Angayreddy on 2 August 2024 at 5:22 PMA forum discussion for the latest developments in the Israel-Palestine conflict. This discussion will be updated with new events, news, and analysis related to the conflict. Join the discussion, share your thoughts, and engage with others on the latest issues and trends.
UPSC World replied 1 month ago 2 Members · 7 Replies -
7 Replies
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A conflict without end: Understanding the complex history and politics of Israel-Palestine
- The Israel-Palestine conflict is a longstanding dispute between Israelis and Palestinians over land, rights, and identity.
- The conflict has its roots in the early 20th century, when Jewish immigration to Palestine, then under Ottoman rule, began to increase.
- In 1948, the State of Israel was established, leading to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, known as the Nakba or “catastrophe” in Arabic.
- Since then, Israelis and Palestinians have been locked in a cycle of violence, occupation, and failed peace talks.
- Today, the conflict continues over issues such as borders, settlements, Jerusalem, and the rights of Palestinian refugees.
- The Israeli military has occupied the West Bank and Gaza Strip since 1967, and has built settlements and a separation barrier that Palestinians say restricts their movement and access to resources.
- Palestinians have resisted the occupation through various means, including armed struggle, nonviolent protests, and diplomatic efforts.
- Despite numerous international efforts, a lasting peace agreement has yet to be reached, and the situation remains volatile and unpredictable.
- Recent developments, such as the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the relocation of the US embassy, have further complicated the situation.
- Ongoing protests and clashes along the Gaza-Israel border, as well as the expansion of Israeli settlements, continue to fuel tensions and undermine hopes for a two-state solution.
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Assassination of Hamas Leader Escalates Middle East Tensions
- Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran, Iran on July 31, reportedly in an Israeli “strike” on his residence.
- The Israeli military has not commented on the incident.
- Haniyeh’s killing marks a defining moment in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
- Iran has vowed to avenge the killing, signaling that Hamas leaders are not safe in Iran.
- The assassination has the potential to trigger further hostilities and wider conflict in the Middle East.
- From Israel’s perspective, Haniyeh’s killing is a major victory in its mission to neutralize Hamas.
- However, for Hamas, it is a major provocation, and pressure will mount on Iran’s newly-elected President to respond in kind.
Hamas (Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya) is a Palestinian Islamist political party and militant organization that has been the government of the Gaza Strip since 2007. Founded in 1987, Hamas is known for its armed resistance against Israel, which it views as an occupying power, and its commitment to establishing an Islamic state in Palestine.
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India’s Delicate Balancing Act in the Iran-Israel Conflict
- India’s silence on the Iran-Israel conflict reflects its dilemma in balancing ties with both countries.
- India has stakes in the region’s stability due to the presence of 18,000 Indians in Israel and 5,000-10,000 in Iran.
- The conflict poses a risk to the Indian community and could impact energy security, as the region contributes to 80% of India’s oil supplies.
- India has invested in strategic relationships with Arab countries, Iran, and Israel, and sees the region as its extended neighborhood.
- The conflict could impact India’s plans for the Chabahar port in Iran and the India-Israel-UAE-US I2U2 initiative.
- India has a deep strategic relationship with Israel, especially in defense and security partnership.
- India maintains a balanced stand, expecting both countries to avoid military actions that could trigger a wider war.
- India’s non-ideological engagement with the region is necessary for its expanding interests in the Middle East.
- India’s position is that there should be immediate de-escalation, a step back from violence, and a return to diplomacy, which is crucial to its national interest.
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A Web of Allies Poised to Strike Against Israel
- Recently, an airstrike in Tehran resulted in the assassination of the Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh.
- This incident has led experts to believe that Iran may retaliate by increasing attacks against Israel.
- However, Iran is likely to carry out these attacks through its allies, rather than directly.
- These allies are part of the “Axis of Resistance”, a network of organizations that oppose Israel and are supported by Iran.
- The “Axis of Resistance” includes groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip.
- Experts believe that Iran may use these allies to launch attacks against Israel, rather than taking direct action itself.
- This approach would allow Iran to maintain plausible deniability and avoid direct confrontation with Israel.
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Israel’s Strike on Hezbollah Chief
- The Israel Defense Forces have killed Hasan Nasrallah, the longtime leader of Hezbollah, a powerful Iran-backed armed group and political party controlling much of southern Lebanon.
- Nasrallah played a key role in building Hezbollah into a potent force and was one of the most influential figures in the Middle East.
- Hezbollah was formed in 1982 as a Shia resistance group with support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) following Israel’s invasion of Lebanon.
- The group’s core purpose is resistance against Israel, with the destruction of Israel stated in its manifesto.
- The latest conflict flared after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, leading to Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon and the displacement of 70,000 Israelis.
- Nasrallah’s death eliminates one of Israel’s most significant military threats and marks a pivotal event in the conflict.
- Half of Hezbollah’s leadership council has been eliminated, significantly weakening the group’s decision-making and intelligence-sharing capabilities.
- The assassination of Nasrallah offers Lebanon a chance to reduce Hezbollah’s grip on the country and potentially ease its influence over national affairs.
- Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Iran are closely monitoring developments, and their responses will be crucial in determining whether the conflict escalates or de-escalates.
- India seeks stability in West Asia to resume connectivity projects and focus on regional prosperity, and is closely monitoring the situation.
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Major events that happened after Israel’s strike on Hezbollah ChiefIran’s Missile Attack on Israel
- Iran launched hundreds of drones and cruise missiles towards Israel in response to the strike.
- The attack killed a senior member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards and eight other officers.
- Israel’s Iron Dome defense system intercepted many of the missiles.
- However, some missiles hit Israeli territory, causing damage and injuries.
- Iran threatened to launch more attacks if Israel retaliates.
Escalation of Conflict
- The conflict in West Asia has intensified, with the Israeli military shifting its focus from Hamas in Gaza to the more formidable Hezbollah in Lebanon.
- Hezbollah has launched several rockets into Israel, causing damage and injuries.
- Israel has retaliated with airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.
- The conflict has raised concerns of a wider regional war.
- The US, EU, and other countries have called for restraint and a peaceful resolution.
Israel Bans UNSG from Entering Country
- Israel banned United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) António Guterres from entering the country and accused Guterres of “backing” Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran.
- The move was seen as a significant escalation by Israel against the UN.
- Guterres had been critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
- The ban has sparked widespread international criticism.
India’s Neutral Stance and Travel Advisory
- India has maintained a neutral stance on the Iran-Israel conflict, urging for de-escalation and peaceful resolutions.
- The Ministry of External Affairs has issued a travel advisory for Indian nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Iran and to stay vigilant.
Impact on Trade
- The conflict has led to a surge in shipping costs due to longer trade routes.
- Indian exporters have been impacted, especially those dealing in low-margin goods.
- The conflict has disrupted trade through the Suez Canal and Red Sea.
- India’s trade with Europe, the US, Africa, and West Asia has been affected.
- Exporters have called for government support to mitigate the impact.
Calls for Indian Shipping Line
- Indian exporters are urging the government to establish an Indian shipping line. The move would reduce reliance on foreign firms and benefit MSMEs.
- India’s outward remittance on transport services exceeded $109 billion in 2022.
- Exporters believe an Indian shipping line would reduce foreign shipping lines’ ability to dictate terms.
- The government is considering the proposal to establish an Indian shipping line.
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Iran recently launched over 180 ballistic missiles, including the Fattah-2 hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile, in major offensive against Israel’s air defenses.
Iran’s Fattah-2 Hypersonic Missile
- The Fattah-2 missile, developed by Iran, is a new version of its first domestically made hypersonic ballistic missile, with a range of 1500 kilometers and a velocity of Mach 15.
- It is equipped with a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) warhead that can maneuver and glide at hypersonic speed, using a liquid-fuel rocket propellant and precision-guided two-stage missile.
- The missile can carry 200 kilograms of explosives, measuring 12 meters in length, and is capable of significant trajectory changes during flight to evade defense systems.
- It can accelerate outside the Earth’s atmosphere and has aerodynamic control surfaces for steering within the atmosphere.
- The Fattah-2 missile was used for the first time in combat, penetrating Israel’s air defense systems.
- The missile’s development aims to strengthen Iran’s deterrence capabilities, enhance security, and foster sustainable peace in the region.
- It features high speed, stealth design, and maneuverability, making it difficult to intercept due to unpredictable flight paths.
- The missile’s technological advancements position Iran as one of the few countries to possess hypersonic missile technology.
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