By Other Means

The Gaza ceasefire brokered by the USA and Qatar was never truly respected by the arrogant Israel, which continues to kill innocent civilians  by bombing  and by enforced starvation; thus the weaker side can never hope to benefit from any ceasefire. Let's examine what has brought about the Iran-Israel/ USA ceasefire after 12 days of aerial/ missile conflict. Despite non- confirmation by IAEA, Israel as well as USA/ NATO Allies believed that Iran was days away from detonating a nuclear device. Therefore, Israel got a nod from the USA to strike Iran’s military & Intelligence leadership and nuclear scientists besides all nuclear and missile sites, which was successfully done to quite an extent but not entirely. The underestimation of Iran’s national will, retaliatory drones and missile capability took Israel by surprise, which could ill afford human casualties, destruction of military and civilian infrastructure especially in Haifa that is Israel’s industrial and technological hub  and critical for energy supplies. Israel prevailed upon the USA to jump in the arena with the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers (GBU Bunker buster) that only lasted for one nigh operation with the unauthenticated claims to have significantly inflicted damage to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. And hours later, Iran’s symbolic strikes on American military bases  in the Arab countries like Qatar, Bahrain and KSA without any physical damage reported brought about the ceasefire announcement by POTUS Trump(acting as WWF ring referee despite being the sponsor and fighter himself) and brokered through Qatari Ruler. It goes without saying that a lot of things during this 12 days conflict happened in the Grey shade, especially with regards to the subject pause.

Will this ceasefire be used by the belligerents for licking wounds, damage assessment to personal and national egos & physical infrastructure, rest and refit, for change of postures, resort to other means to achieve the war aims & objectives, and above all will this ceasefire be respected and for how long--fingers crossed. While each side will continue to lay claims on being ‘one up’ ; however, as ends justify the means, so shall the achievement of laid down war objectives be used as a litmus test to determine the claims about victory. In pursuit of the overall aim of realization of the “Greater Israel” dream, the annexation of Gaza and West Bank by mass killing, arrests, torture and enforced starvation and mass exodus of the hapless Palestinian have been achieved to some extent by neutering the bystander Arabs and other strong Muslim countries by various means well known to all and sundry. Hamas and Yemeni Houthis and the bravest creed on earth i.e. the Palestinian have put up a brave show duly supported by Iran alone but at an unbearable human and economic cost.

The Iran- Israel conflict has further frustrated the Israeli hawks and her Western sponsors led by USA with heavy political and economic cost. The Israeli political and military facade of invincibility stands shattered and the outcome has also challenged the docile and submissive Arabs’ conscience, gold plated comfort zones and ostentatious image that stands badly contused. The Israeli and US/ Allies dreams of reducing Iranian nuclear sites to rubble to neuter her nuclear weapon potential seem to have met partial success; however, elimination of Iranian clergy leadership and regime change operations stays pending for the time being and may be relegated to Keep Iran posing a threat to Arab rulers, or else may be put through repeat of Iraqi or even Syrian model in a little extended time frame. Globally, the efficacy of UNO has once again proven to be no better than the defunct League of Nations and the democratic image of the West stand exposed as hypocritical.

Overall, Iran stands on higher moral grounds with even better national unity,  greater morale and improved regional standing by facing the Israeli and Western tyranny all alone. It is time for the Muslim majority countries to pay heed to the old maxim, “ United we stand, divided we fall”. The biggest lesson is that for survival as a respectable nation, belief in ideology, public support, a resilient political system, stable economy and matchless military potential are essential ingredients.