{"id":49429,"date":"2025-07-28T17:21:42","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T11:51:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=49429"},"modified":"2025-07-28T18:42:52","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T13:12:52","slug":"western-world-over-gaza-rift-and-possible-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/28-07-2025\/western-world-over-gaza-rift-and-possible-impact","title":{"rendered":"Rift in the Western World Over Gaza &#8211; And Its Possible Impact"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus<\/strong><strong>: GS2\/International Relations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>As Israel\u2019s military campaign in Gaza intensifies, a growing divide has emerged within the Western world over how to respond &#8211; a rift that could reshape global diplomacy, humanitarian policy, and the future of the <strong>Israeli-Palestinian conflict<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Overview of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"dfd7c9\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Overview-of-the-Israeli-Palestinian-Conflict-900x1024.png\" alt=\"Overview-of-the-Israeli-Palestinian-Conflict\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-49430\" style=\"--dominant-color: #dfd7c9; width:370px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Overview-of-the-Israeli-Palestinian-Conflict-900x1024.png 900w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Overview-of-the-Israeli-Palestinian-Conflict-264x300.png 264w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Overview-of-the-Israeli-Palestinian-Conflict-768x874.png 768w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Overview-of-the-Israeli-Palestinian-Conflict.png 1194w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Historical Background: <\/strong>The <strong>Zionist movement<\/strong> (Late 19th Century) emerged in <strong>Europe<\/strong>, advocating for a Jewish homeland in <strong>Palestine &#8211; then part of the Ottoman Empire.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Jewish immigration increased, especially after World War I.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>British Mandate (1920\u20131948):<\/strong> Britain took control of Palestine and supported the creation of a Jewish national home through the <strong>Balfour Declaration (1917)<\/strong>, sparking tensions with the Arab majority.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>UN Partition Plan (1947):<\/strong> UN proposed <strong>dividing Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Jews accepted the plan; Arabs rejected it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Arab-Israeli War (1948):<\/strong> Following Israel\u2019s declaration of independence, neighboring Arab states invaded.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Over 700,000 Palestinians were displaced &#8211;  an event known as the <strong>Nakba (\u2018Catastrophe\u2019).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Six-Day War (1967):<\/strong> Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and other territories, intensifying the occupation and settlement issues that persist today.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"bfa6a3\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"561\" height=\"557\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Six-Day-War-1967.png\" alt=\"Six-Day War 1967\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-49434\" style=\"--dominant-color: #bfa6a3; width:329px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Six-Day-War-1967.png 561w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Six-Day-War-1967-300x298.png 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Six-Day-War-1967-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 561px) 100vw, 561px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Root Causes of the Conflict<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Territorial Claims:<\/strong> Both Israelis and Palestinians claim historical and religious ties to the same land.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Displacement and Refugees:<\/strong> The 1948 and 1967 wars led to mass displacement of Palestinians, many of whom still live in refugee camps.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Jerusalem:<\/strong> A city sacred to Jews, Muslims, and Christians &#8211; both sides claim it as their capital.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Security and Violence: <\/strong>Repeated cycles of violence, including suicide bombings, airstrikes, and rocket attacks, have deepened mistrust.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Political Fragmentation:<\/strong> The Palestinian leadership is divided between Fatah (West Bank) and Hamas (Gaza), complicating negotiations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>International Involvement:<\/strong> U.S. support for Israel and Arab backing of Palestine have globalized the conflict, often polarizing diplomatic efforts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Other Causes of the Crisis <\/strong>include the prolonged blockade and siege by Israel; destruction of aid supplies; dangerous aid distribution system; collapse of civil infrastructure; malnutrition and famine risk.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Concerns &amp; Challenges:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Global Rift &amp; Western Division Over Gaza:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>United States:<\/strong> It has withdrawn from ceasefire negotiations and continues to support Israel\u2019s military and political objectives, including its controversial plan to relocate Gaza\u2019s population into a <strong>\u2018humanitarian city<\/strong>\u2019 &#8211;  described by some experts as resembling a concentration camp.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>European Pushback:<\/strong> Western leaders, including the UK\u2019s Keir Starmer, Canada\u2019s Mark Carney, and Australia\u2019s Anthony Albanese, have issued strong public rebukes of Israel\u2019s actions.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The recent <strong>Declaration of Palestinian statehood<\/strong> by the <strong>French President <\/strong>faced criticism from both the US and Israel.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Joint Statement of Dissent:<\/strong> Recently, 25 countries including the UK, France, Italy, Japan, Canada, and the EU issued a joint statement declaring: <strong>\u2018The war in Gaza must end now\u2019.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Global South and Arab States: <\/strong>Nations in the <strong>Global South<\/strong> and the <strong>Arab League<\/strong> overwhelmingly call for an <strong>immediate ceasefire<\/strong> and a return to <strong>negotiated two-state talks<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>However, these states have <strong>limited leverage<\/strong>, and most have <strong>refrained from punitive actions<\/strong> like sanctions or diplomatic isolation of Israel.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Two-State Solution Under Pressure:<\/strong> Recently Israel has passed <strong>resolutions rejecting Palestinian sovereignty<\/strong> and approved 22 new settlements in the West Bank.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>France and Saudi Arabia are co-chairing a UN conference to revive the two-state framework, but the US and Israel remain resistant.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Humanitarian Crisis Escalates:<\/strong> Over 1,000 Palestinians have died since the Israeli-American Gaza Humanitarian Foundation began operations in May 2025.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>World Food Program<\/strong> reports that a third of Gaza\u2019s population is going multiple days without food.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Aid convoys have become deadly zones, with civilians reportedly shot while lining up for supplies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Implications of the Global Rift<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Diplomatic Realignment:<\/strong> Countries like France and Canada may recalibrate their Middle East policies, potentially leading to new coalitions that <strong>challenge US-Israeli dominance.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>UN Dynamics:<\/strong> Growing support for Palestinian statehood could pressure the UN to take more assertive action, though<strong> veto powers remain a hurdle.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Global South Influence:<\/strong> The rift highlights the rising influence of non-Western nations in shaping global narratives around justice and sovereignty.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>US Isolation:<\/strong> Continued American support for Israel may deepen its diplomatic isolation, especially among younger democracies and civil society movements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Diplomatic Efforts and Reactions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ceasefire talks, mediated by Qatar and Egypt with U.S. backing, have stalled repeatedly.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The U.S. envoy is currently pushing <strong>for a 60-day truce.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>France announced it will <strong>recognize Palestine as a state at the UN<\/strong> in September, joining over 140 countries in support of Palestinian statehood.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A joint statement from 28 Western-aligned nations condemned Israel\u2019s aid policies and civilian casualties, signaling a growing rift among traditional allies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India\u2019s Role in the Gaza Conflict<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Immediate Ceasefire &amp; Humanitarian Access:<\/strong> At the UN Security Council, India\u2019s Permanent Representative urged an \u2018immediate ceasefire\u2019, safe aid corridors, and release of all hostages, stressing that \u2018ongoing human suffering must not be allowed to continue\u2019.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Two-State Solution:<\/strong> India supports \u2018a sovereign, independent, viable Palestine\u2019 alongside Israel within secure, recognized borders.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Palestinian Ambassador to India accused Israel and the U.S. of committing genocide and highlighted the destruction of schools and libraries funded by India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Forward<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Immediate Humanitarian Relief:<\/strong> Open border crossings and restore UN-run aid networks.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India, Egypt, and other regional powers must pressure Israel to comply with international law.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Revive the Two-State Solution:<\/strong> Despite setbacks, the two-state framework remains the most viable path.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A reformed Palestinian Authority, backed by international monitors, could govern Gaza and the West Bank.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Global Accountability:<\/strong> International courts must investigate alleged war crimes. Countries must condition military aid on compliance with humanitarian norms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reconstruction and Recovery:<\/strong> A UN-led multi-year plan should rebuild Gaza\u2019s infrastructure, homes, and schools. India could play a key role through development aid and technical expertise.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Daily Mains Practice Question<\/strong><br><strong>[Q]<\/strong> To what extent does the growing division among Western nations over the Gaza conflict challenge the traditional notions of collective diplomacy, and what implications might this have for global humanitarian accountability?<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-global\/the-rift-in-western-world-over-gaza-and-its-possible-impact-10153618\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sour<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-global\/the-rift-in-western-world-over-gaza-and-its-possible-impact-10153618\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">c<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-global\/the-rift-in-western-world-over-gaza-and-its-possible-impact-10153618\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">e: IE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/UPSC-Editorial-Analysis-28-July-2025.PDF.pdf\">Download PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As Israel\u2019s military campaign in Gaza intensifies, a growing divide has emerged within the Western world over how to respond \u2014 a rift that could reshape global diplomacy, humanitarian policy, and the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":49436,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49429","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial-analysis"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/07\/upsc-editorial-28-july-2025.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49429","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49429"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49429\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49464,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49429\/revisions\/49464"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}