Over the past few years, the dominant discussions in Middle East geopolitics have revolved around diplomatic negotiations between Arab nations and Israel. Aside from Saudi Arabia, several Middle Eastern countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan, have normalized their diplomatic ties with Israel within the last year. Most recently, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia, stated his country was moving steadily closer to normalizing relations with Israel.

These diplomatic developments primarily center on interests in connectivity and trade routes to the Mediterranean Sea, countering Iran's military expansion, ensuring the stability of Arab nations, and aspiring to transform the Middle East into a more prosperous and integrated region, akin to Europe. Initially, it appeared that these actions were signaling Arab acceptance of Israel as a geopolitical reality, thereby undermining the advocacy for an independent Palestine on the global stage.

However, recent surprise attacks on mainland Israel by the Gaza-based armed group Hamas have challenged these perceptions. In recent years, Israel has made efforts to establish itself as an attractive investment destination, with Tel Aviv emerging as an appealing tourist hotspot. Moreover, Israel has actively sought to engage with emerging economies, with Chinese investments in Israel's infrastructure and technology sector exceeding 4 billion US dollars this year. Currently, around 18,000 Indians are employed in the country. Nevertheless, the Hamas attack challenges Israel's perception of itself as a secure country.

The consequences of this attack are likely to be substantial, and a swift resolution is not expected. However, Hamas has sent a message to the Arab world, stating, 'We can challenge what you have diplomatically accepted as reality in a matter of minutes.'

Arab-Israeli Conflict:

The Arab-Israeli conflict stands apart from other global conflicts, as it cannot be solely understood through the lens of statism. Jerusalem holds profound religious significance for three major religions – Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Beyond religion and politics, this region along the Mediterranean coast holds significant value in terms of facilitating East-West trade routes. 

The history of modern Palestine is marked by the deprivation of Palestinian rights. According to Amnesty International, currently, 60% of the West Bank's area (Palestine) is under full Israeli control. Illegal Jewish Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem cover 35% of East Jerusalem (Palestine). More than 600,000 Jewish Israeli settlers are living in occupied Palestinian territory. Additionally, more than 100,000 hectares of land have been occupied by Israel from Palestinians since 1967. Furthermore, 50,000 Palestinian homes and structures have been demolished by Israel over the past 50 years. 

Arab-Israeli Conflict’s History: Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the League of Nations mandated Britain to govern Palestine. It was then decided to partition the British Mandate territory between Palestinians and Jews, leading to the establishment of Israel on May 14, 1948. However, the very next day, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq launched an offensive against the territory claim of Jews, resulting in Israel's occupation of vast areas, including Palestine and others Arabs. Since then, Palestinians have observed 15th May as "Nakba Day" or "Catastrophe Day." In 1967, another named "Six-Day War took place, which had far-reaching consequences. The war of October 1973, also known as the Yom Kippur War, saw Egypt and Syria on one side and Israel on the other, with Egypt regaining some of its lost territory in the Sinai. Nevertheless, Israel retained control of Gaza and the Golan Heights. In 1994, under international pressure, Israel was compelled to cede Gaza to Palestine. Subsequent years witnessed major clashes between Israelis and Palestinians in 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2021. But this clash has escalated to unprecedented levels. As of now, reports indicate that 600 Israelis have been killed, 150 detent and 2,000 wounded, while Israel's extensive bombardment in Gaza has claimed the lives of 300 civilians and injured 2,000.

If Israel were to initiate a land war towards Gaza, Hezbollah could join the conflict. Moreover, there's a risk that the unrest could spread to East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Palestinian civilians residing in Gaza might suffer from indiscriminate violence if Israel were to launch a land offensive war. However, the Israeli military would also face formidable resistance, and Palestinians could potentially use detained Israelis as human shields.

The recent demonstrations in Gaza are a manifestation of pent-up anger and frustration that has been brewing for years. Israel’s ongoing construction of unauthorized settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, coupled with the blockade on Gaza, has exacerbated the situation. For blockade on Gaza the provision of urgent food and medical assistance in Gaza falls far short of what is needed, with more than 60% of the area's young population facing unemployment, intensifying the underlying resentment.

Since 1967, only individuals of the Muslim have been granted access to Al Aqsa. However, Israeli law enforcement has frequently entered and clashed with men, women, and even children. Starting in 2017, Jewish individuals have also been allowed entry into the Al-Aqsa compound, which has diminished its sanctity and sparked ongoing protests. In response, Hamas has dubbed their operation "Operation al-Aqsa Flood."

Historically, Palestinians have initiated two popular uprisings, known as 'intifadas,' against Israel. The first uprising unfolded in the 1980s, with mostly unarmed Palestinians confronting Israeli armed forces through stone-throwing. The Second Intifada, spanning from 2000 to 2005, was notably bloodier, resulting in the loss of 3,000 Palestinian lives and 1,000 Israeli soldiers.

The current actions by Hamas could be viewed as the potential beginnings of a third intifada or revolution. This third revolution remains in its early phases, with its course potentially shaped by the reaction to Israel's actions in Gaza and Hezbollah's involvement in the conflict. There is an unfolding trajectory, and the Middle East is on the verge of an unprecedented conflict, could transform Gaza into a lethal battleground by Israel. The iconic golden dome of Al-Aqsa will continue to serve as a symbol of hope for Palestinians in their pursuit of their rights.