Context:
The killing of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar by Israeli forces on October 16, 2024, marked a significant moment in Israel’s military objectives, but the future political landscape in Gaza and Lebanon remains uncertain with rising civilian casualties.
Relevance: GS 2 (International Relations)
Practice question: Discuss the role of the global South amid geopolitical conflicts with special reference to the Gaza crisis of 2024 Highlight the challenges faced by India and China in shaping the unified response. (250 words)
Fragmented Global South: The Global South’s response to the Gaza conflict has been fragmented, reflecting differing national interests. South Africa took a legal approach, referring Israel to the ICJ, while India and China have diverged in their strategies.
China’s Approach:
- Focused on aligning with the Arab world and Palestinian sovereignty through a decolonisation lens.
- Invited 14 Palestinian factions, including Hamas, to Beijing in 2024 to discuss unity.
- Avoided condemning Hamas by name to maintain a mediator role in West Asia.
- Relations with Israel weakened as China prioritised Arab-Iranian alliances.
India’s Position:
- Balances support for a two-state solution with counterterrorism efforts aligned with Israel.
- Has strong counterterrorism partnerships with Israel due to shared experiences with terrorism (e.g., 1999 India’s plane IC814 hijacking and releasing of Jaish-e-Muhammad’s Masood Azhar parallel to Israel’s 2011 release of Sinwar).
- Continues to support Palestinian statehood, maintaining diplomatic balance despite perceptions of pro-Israel leanings.
BRICS and Divergence:
- China and India’s divergent approaches reflect broader issues in the Global South’s coherence.
- China pushes for influence through BRICS and has supported its expansion, including potential Palestinian membership, but India’s interest in BRICS remains more cautious.
Erosion of U.S. Influence:
- The diminishing role of U.S.-led Pax Americana is evident as the U.S. struggles with domestic constraints and lacks effective mediation in Gaza.
- Global South alternatives remain distant realities, unable to project political or military power in West Asia.
Global South’s Limitations:
- Despite the aspirations of the Global South, its inability to unify and project meaningful influence in international conflicts is clear.
- Mediation in West Asia requires power and leverage that no Global South country possesses individually or collectively.
Conclusion:
The Gaza war reveals both the limitations of U.S. influence and the fragmented nature of the Global South, which is unable to act as a unified force. Individual national interests, especially those of China and India, take precedence, preventing cohesive interventions.
