Why is News :
- What began as Israel’s retaliation to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack has now expanded into a regional conflict, drawing in multiple countries including Iran, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, and increasingly, the United States.
- The U.S. has supported Israel diplomatically and militarily, despite mounting evidence of war crimes and humanitarian violations, triggering alarm at global platforms like the UN and ICC.
Key Events and Trends
- The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli PM Netanyahu and ex-Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes including starvation as a method of warfare.
- The U.S. rejected the ICC warrants and continues to support Israel militarily, approving nearly $12 billion in foreign military sales.
- In June 2025, the U.S. conducted airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities (Natanz, Fordow, Isfahan), intensifying the regional security crisis.
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
Food and aid restrictions remain severe:
- Less than 1,000 food trucks entered Gaza in two months.
- Food aid dropped from 2 lakh tonnes (Feb 2025) to <20,000 tonnes (June 2025).
- Over 55,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since October 2023, including 17,000 children.
- The death toll across the region exceeds 60,000 in 615 days of conflict.
Scope of Israeli Military Operations
According to ACLED data, Israel has conducted:
- Over 42,000 attacks since October 2023.
- Nearly 25,000 attacks on Palestinian territories alone.
- Israeli operations have expanded to Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran, raising concerns of full-scale regional war.
U.S. Diplomatic Shielding of Israel
- Despite global outcry and UN calls for ceasefires, the U.S. has vetoed or opposed most UN resolutions related to Palestine, with the exception of UNSC Resolution 2735 (2024).
- The U.S. continues to defend Israel’s military actions, limiting international diplomatic interventions.
India’s Shifting Position
- India has abstained from the latest UN resolution (June 12, 2025) demanding a Gaza ceasefire.
- This is the fourth such abstention in three years, showing a calibrated shift from earlier consistent “yes” votes on humanitarian grounds.
- The shift is interpreted as balancing strategic ties with Israel, the U.S., and the Arab world.
Domestic Sentiment in the U.S.
A YouGov survey shows that:
- Majority of Americans oppose direct U.S. military involvement in the Israel–Iran conflict.
- Both Democrats and Republicans show reluctance, with only 16% supporting intervention.
- Reflects a growing divide between government policy and public opinion in the U.S.
Global and Strategic Implications
Erosion of International Norms:
- Continued military aggression despite ICC warrants undermines the legitimacy of international law and the rules-based global order.
Collapse of Global Ceasefire Mechanisms:
- UN’s failure to enforce ceasefires, due to veto powers, has weakened multilateral diplomacy.
Humanitarian Fallout:
- Disruption of aid, food, and healthcare delivery systems in Gaza and surrounding regions deepens the crisis.
Widening of the Conflict Theatre:
- Iran’s retaliatory attacks and the U.S.’s direct military involvement risk transforming a bilateral conflict into a regional war.
Implications for India:
- India must navigate carefully between its energy and diaspora interests in West Asia, strategic partnership with Israel, and commitment to international humanitarian norms.
| UPSC Relevance GS2 – International Relations:West Asia crisis, India’s foreign policy balancing, global governance institutions (UN, ICC). GS3 – Security, Defence, Humanitarian Issues:Military conflict escalation, regional security, humanitarian aid blockades. Possible Mains Questions Q. “The Gaza crisis is no longer a localized conflict but a flashpoint threatening regional and global security.” Analyze in the context of U.S.–Israel–Iran relations. |