he recent Israel-Iran exchanges should be seen in the context of Israel’s on-going offensive in Gaza. These also mirror the historical tensions on account of international, domestic and regional factors. The Israel-Palestine crisis goes beyond a bilateral conflict and is rooted in settler colonialism. As the US-led West lords over the Gulf and Iran intervenes through its proxies, analysing the situation through a colonial lens can be helpful.

Israel’s military presence in Gaza is rooted in its historical displacement and the racial-cum Zionist agenda to recapture the ‘promised’ land that has been inhabited by the Palestinians for centuries. This irredentist claim over the land has culminated in the loss of thousands of lives since 1948. The current world order advocates liberal politics, peace, humanity and freedom. However, its allocation of key roles and resources to ensure these ends has been quite inconsistent.

The US, a major actor in the perpetuation of this crisis, continues to pledge support for Israel by projecting soft as well as hard power. It has persistently pledged support for the Israeli state’s ‘right to exit’ even as the latter denies statehood for the Palestinians. The US has been pouring in millions of dollars in financial support besides pledging unwavering diplomatic support. The official US position is that Israel is only defending itself from Hamas which attacked it on October 7, 2023. The US position is backed by massive endorsements and political assistance from the Western bloc.

From a realist perspective, the West’s alliance with Israel epitomises the notion of power politics. The strategic gains of these nations are moved by geopolitical placement and military stakes. Consequently, they are driven to declare support for Israel as part of their win-sets because doing otherwise would disrupt the balance of power in the Middle East. If Israel is not used as an effective outpost and Iran gets the nuclear weapon status to balance the power dynamics, the US influence will wane. By collaborating with Iran, Russia could then penetrate the region and become a direct threat to US hegemony. Hence, for the US-led West, favouring Israel is the optimal policy choice.

It is important to note that Iran has symbolic value as well. Its authoritarian regime helps organisations like Hamas and Hezbollah that continue to resist Israel. Iran uses these groups as outposts for leveraging internal political dynamics. By supporting the Palestinian resistance, the Irani government is able to establish its influence internationally and suppress domestic opposition by presenting Israel as the common enemy. Supreme leader Khamenei recently declared that Iran had a ‘duty’ to condemn Israel. Such statements tend to divert public attention from the state’s oppressive domestic policies.

The weaponising of United States’ intelligence capabilities is further complicating the situation. Reports suggest that the US intelligence might have had prior knowledge of the recent Israeli strikes. This eventually stirred accusations of American involvement in perpetuating regional conflicts. The top-secret Pentagon report consists of markings that indicate the exclusive involvement of the five eyes — the US, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The leak could compromise relations between the US and Israel, especially considering the latter’s preparation to strike Iran as a response to the October 1 missile barrage.

However, the United Kingdom and the United States have stressed the need for de-escalating the situation and tried to prevent direct confrontation between the two nations. The decision of the Congress not to take a hard line position publicly may have been prompted by internal factors, particularly, the upcoming elections.

Today US maintains military presence all over the globe with more than 800 military bases. Its economic and cultural clout is substantial. Hence, while the entire world disapproves of the Israeli stance, supported by the US and its allies is the ultimate weapon the Israeli state relies on. This was evident when the UN Security Council Resolution 2728, demanded an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Palestine, was put to vote. While all 14 members approved it, the US chose to abstain. Had the US wanted to facilitate a ceasefire, no power in the world could have prevented it from doing so. It has becomes clear that the US policy is no longer about universal peace, but securing the American interests.

The government of Pakistan has condemned the Israeli actions. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has expressed deep concerns about Israel’s aggression towards Iran. The statement is in line with Pakistan’s diplomatic support for a ceasefire in Gaza and progress towards the establishment of a Palestinian state envisaged by key UN resolutions.

It is improbable despite the Israeli strike that the situation will soon develop into a global war. Iran’s proxy strategy and the cautious response of the global community indicate a regional, rather than an international conflict in the near term.

The developments also afford a reflection on the Gulf region, highlighting the impact of colonial legacies. The crisis that looms over the Middle East is a testament to the catastrophic aftermath of settler colonialism.

Ejaz Hussain has a PhD in political science from Heidelberg University and a post-doc from UC-Berkeley. He is a DAAD, FDDI and Fulbright fellow and an associate professor at Lahore School of Economics. He can be reached at ejaz.bhatty@gmail.com

Sofia Najeeb is a senior-year student and a research assistant at the Lahore School of Economics, pursuing a BS degree in political science.