Spiralling conflict in Gaza

With Israel's massive air attacks on Hamas-ruled Gaza strip on Wednesday and Hamas militants responding with rocket fires, the fear that the conflict may spiral into a full-fledged second Gaza war is rising. Israeli air attacks have already taken severe toll of civilian lives in Gaza.

We are gravely concerned at this fresh spate of violence since further escalation of the situation has the potential to turn Gaza into a humanitarian disaster zone. Though Israel has claimed that it is only targeting only military installations, civilian population has not been spared in Wednesday's attacks as well as those carried out until Saturday last.

Israel's use of disproportionate force has charecterised its bellicosity towards the Palestinians, which may not go unresponded given Hamas' increasing firepower.

While the Arb nations notably Egypt, with Islamic Brotherhood in power having a history of fraternal relations with the Hamas, have condemned Israeli attack, the West has asked both Israel and the Hamas for restraint. The US has supported Israel reiterating that it has the right to self-defence. Considering the death figures on the Palestinians' side vis-a-vis that of the Israelis, one is led to believe that Israel is not acting in defence, rather it has started an allout offensive against the Gazans.

The threatening postures of hawks in Israel is further fuelling the wild speculation that its ground offensive against Gaza is imminent.

In that eventuality, the conflict may not remain confined between Israel and the Hamas and given the current state of volatility in the region, it may well spill over drawing other Middle Eastern nations into the vortex.

UN Security Council may consider convening a session to stop further escalation of the conflict in the region as the US weighs in with Tel Aviv to pull back from any misadventure.