he humanitarian situation in Gaza has worsened since Israel resumed its bombing of the besieged enclave. This is a matter of utmost urgency that should have elicited a prompt response from the international world order. The latest Israeli airstrikes on Nasser Hospital caused fresh casualties, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. At the back end of this catastrophe are Benjamin Netanyahu’s domestic policies. At the same time, the United States is bombing Houthi rebels in Yemen, adding to the complexity of an already catastrophic conflict. These latest developments have raised questions about Netanyahu’s political ambitions and shed new light on the US motives in Yemen.

On March 27, the Israeli military targeted Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua, a Hamas spokesman. Earlier this week, Ismail Barhoum and Salah al-Bardaweel were murdered. Israel has so far killed nine members of Hamas’s political bureau: Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, Saleh al-Aruri, Rawhi Mushtaha, Sameh al-Sarrah, Marwan Issa, Zakariyya Muammar, Jamila ash-Shanti and Jawad Abu Shammala. Gaza’s Ministry of Health has said that at least 50,021 Palestinians have been killed and 113,274 wounded since Israel began attacking the besieged territory on October 7, 2023. The UN says Israel’s latest offensive in Gaza has displaced 142,000 Palestinians in one week.

Israel’s incumbent prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has been accused of many improprieties at home, including financial corruption. Such controversies not only impact his reputation at home but also erode his credibility internationally. He is already accused of war crimes. The recent decision of the Israeli Supreme Court to stop Ronen Bar’s dismissal from Shin Beth is reflective of the complexity of Israel’s internal political dynamics. It is important to note that Bar has accused Netanyahu of fuelling a hate campaign against him. Hence, Netanyahu’s decision to dismiss Bar is seen as an attempt to evade a threat to his reputation and legitimacy within the country. It speaks of his aspiration to increase his powers and avoid the consequences of legal processes against him. This has led to polarisation within Israel and incited nationwide protests and criticism of the lack of transparency in his domestic policies.

Besides the resumed genocidal war on Gaza, the US, too, has initiated airstrikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen over Red Sea attacks on American commercial interests. The latest round of attacks is being legitimised in light of national security as President Donald Trump framed it to be an existential threat in the maritime region.

Israel is regarded as a functioning democracy. However, Netanyahu has ignored democratic principles to shield himself from legal challenges. His ability to undermine political obligations is reflected in his foreign policy, too.

On international corums, Israel has sought to hide behind the US to avoid accountability. The attacks on Nasser Hospital have caused more public outrage. Several international organisations have condemned the Zionist state for targeting hospitals and other civic facilities. However, many states are known to have breached international law citing national security imperatives. A nationalist agenda is typically pushed to consolidate power. Israel is no exception to such political maneuvering. Netanyahu has pursued the same tactics on the domestic front. His hawkish rhetoric is designed to amass power and evade judicial accountability. However given the legal provisions, it is impossible to entirely avoid domestic challenges.

Besides the resumed genocidal war on Gaza, the United States has initiated airstrikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen over Red Sea attacks on American commercial interests. The latest round of attacks is being justified in terms of national security since President Donald Trump has identified the houthis as an existential threat. The US attacks on the Houthis are likely to continue unless they stop attacking designated interests, as has been stated by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Leaked chats between Trump, Hegseth and a mistakenly added Atlantic Magazine journalist, Jeffery Goldberg, carry details of the plans for Yemen. This revelation has demonstrated a callous lack of regard in the West for the Middle East, as plans to blow up parts of a country are nonchalantly discussed over a civilian app. It is important to note that the US motives go beyond securing maritime freedoms. The interventions are essentially aimed at curtailing Iran’s influence in the region and assert power in the Middle East. This is a part also of why the US is adamant about shielding Israel against international scrutiny.

The Houthis have been in Iran’s political sphere since the 1990s. They have received considerable patronage from the Iranian government. Iran has long been accused of providing them military training and equipment, such as missiles and drones. Hence, the US strikes come off as no surprise. There is a message for Tehran as well: it would do well not use proxies that include pro-Iran militias in the neighboring countries.

Deterring the Houthi advance serves two purposes. One, it curbs terrorist activities in the Red Sea. Two, it prevents Iran from using Yemen against Saudi Arabia in the future. This is no different from the Iraq War initiated by the Bush administration, or the Obama administration’s condemnation of Libya’s Qaddafi.

How will Iran respond? It could actually increase its support for the Houthis. The US credibility has been consistently put to question ever since its invasion of Iraq in 2003. Although the seeds of the conflict had been sown earlier, the War on Terror proved disastrous for the region’s peace and stability. The US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 too has diminished its credibility in the region. The attack on the Houthis and the support of Israeli actions in Gaza can only reinforce the disillusionment with the US among the people in the Middle East. The Trump administration appears determined to contain any threats to US hegemony. The circumstances are critical. President Trump’s policies have leaned towards unilateral action. It appears that if the Houthis rally back, the US might expand its military operations in Yemen.

Ejaz Hussain has a PhD in political science from Heidelberg University and post-doc experience at University of California, 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. She is pursuing a BS degree in political science.