Israel and Gaza – An Asymmetric Conflict and the Responsibility of the Arab World

Israel and Gaza – An Asymmetric Conflict and the Responsibility of the Arab World

For decades, the Palestinian leadership and large segments of society have had numerous opportunities to live peacefully alongside Israel. Yet time and again, their representatives have chosen confrontation, violence, and rejection – not only of the State of Israel, but of the core values of a liberal world order.

Despite unpaid bills, Israel continued for years to supply the Gaza Strip with electricity and water – guided by humanitarian considerations. These gestures were repeatedly answered with rocket attacks, terrorist assaults, and deadly raids on civilians. Perpetrators often used legal work permits to enter Israel, only to carry out acts of violence. Meanwhile, schools, mosques, and family structures in Gaza have fostered a deep-seated hostility toward Israel. The state’s right to exist is openly denied, replaced by slogans like “From the river to the sea” – a call that ultimately implies Israel’s annihilation.

The international community has engaged with this conflict for nearly a century – often with good intentions, but little lasting success. After the Hebron massacre of 1929, the Holocaust initiated by Germany, and most recently the barbaric massacre of October 7, 2023, which claimed over 1,000 lives and was celebrated in parts of Palestinian society, a serious question must be asked: How much longer should the West show understanding for a political culture that glorifies violence and systematically rejects reconciliation?

Many Arab states have long since withdrawn from the conflict or shifted their focus elsewhere. Yet the expectation remains that the West should bear permanent moral, diplomatic, and financial responsibility for the Gaza Strip. That assumption must be reconsidered. Responsibility should lie where there is cultural, linguistic, and geopolitical proximity – with countries such as Egypt or Saudi Arabia.

International solidarity cannot remain a one-way street. It must be based on reciprocity – and on a genuine commitment to peace.