New Year's war clouds

The New Year for the world is opening when the Ukraine-Russia war and Israel's Palestinian genocide dominate the global picture. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, which will complete two years in February, looks unlikely to end with anyone declaring victory or reaching a resolution. Ukraine's allies, including the European powers and the United States, are not ready to make any concessions in the dispute over the territory, which is one of the reasons raised by Russia as its justification for the war. Though Ukraine has managed to recapture about 50% of the territories previously conceded, it has not been able to advance much beyond that. Kyiv is also not getting as much of arms and financial aid as originally expected. Many countries, including Hungary and Poland, have protested, virtually putting a brake on European Union aid. Overall, reports indicate that Russia is making gradual gains too even as the United States announces firm support. Observers generally do not expect this war to end as long as armed conflict continues. Although the parties in question are not ready to give the assurances demanded by Russia in regard to Ukraine's NATO membership, the provocation of Ukraine's NATO membership is unlikely to end for the time being. But Russia, which insists that the NATO border should not expand any further, is getting ready for provocation after its neighbour Finland joined the alliance last April. It is almost certain that Vladimir Putin, who is aiming to win the elections in March 2024, will fight to win the war at any cost. On the one hand, there are predictions that Putin will not hesitate to use even nuclear weapons. On the other, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his New Year's message made it clear that they are determined to continue fighting regardless of any force trying to push back the West.

Also read: Israeli minister renews call to clear Gaza, Hamas calls it criminal aggression

When Ukraine is threatening the world like a volcano, the United States has been strongly supporting Israel's war against the Palestinians in the name of Hamas, ever since October 7. In a sense, the attack on Palestine has diverted attention from the Ukraine war. 1,200 Israelis were killed and about 250 were taken hostage in Hamas' lightning strikes against Israeli attacks in occupied Palestine on October 7. The Newe Year is born in the background of over 21,000 Palestinians killed in the brutal attack by Israel in response. Over 19 lakh people have been displaced from the now obliterated Gaza Strip and forced to live in the densely populated area of southern Gaza. The world has already understood the ruthlessness of the Zionist state. Even the United States, which is always in the forefront of advocating the Zionist state's right to 'self-defence' since its inception, has lately been forced to speak out against Israel's bombing atrocity.

Also read: South Africa takes Israel to ICJ for 'genocidal' acts in Gaza

The fact is that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who behaves like a demon that even the United States can't rein in, needs the war to continue in order to maintain his rule. Due to the threat to internal security and its effects on the economy, a large section of the Israeli population is against the war. Tens of thousands of people in different nations of the world have taken to the streets with banners against Israel. Meanwhile, 2024 stares at the world menacingly as Netanyahu says that this war is not going to end anytime soon and that it may not end this year. None of the resolutions already passed by the U.N. have been able to effectively deter Israel from continuing the war. Even otherwise, when has Israel ever respected the UN resolutions? Hamas, on the other hand, continues to prevail amid Israeli attacks. The fact that Hamas is alive today after nearly three months of deadly attacks is a testament to the strength of that resistance. However, other factors are likely to come into play in this war equation, to a greater or lesser extent. If Lebanon's Hezbollah, Yemen's Houthis, and Iran, which supports both factions, enter the fray, the scope of the war may increase. In the absence of any power on earth that can contain Israel, peace will dawn in West Asia only when Tel Aviv faces a setback big enough for them to realise they have lost the cause.

Also read: $147.5mn released by Biden as arms aid for Israel