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Ongoing war of narratives in the Hamas-Israel conflict
In addition to tackling its physical and humanitarian consequences, the international community must join hands to address the debate over the global war on terror that has been reignited by the Hamas-Israel conflict, as well as its implications for security and peace in the world.
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Nothing left: A Palestinian boy carries salvageable items amid the rubble of buildings destroyed during Israeli airstrikes in the Rafah refugee camp in the southern of Gaza Strip, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AFP/Mohammed Abed)
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head of the visit of United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israel last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a statement comparing Hamas to terror group Islamic State (IS), only to spark an immediate flurry of heated discussions and renewed global attention.
The parallel drawn between the two militant groups was unequivocal, with Netanyahu emphasizing his commitment to treating Hamas just as IS had been dealt with, underscoring their shared classification as terrorist organizations.
While this comparison may not have come as a surprise, given Hamas' long-standing designation as a terrorist group by the US and its allies since 1987, the repercussions of this characterization were far-reaching, stirring up intense discussion about its implications for the global war on terrorism.
The aftermath of the tragic 9/11 attacks in the US marked the genesis of the war on terror, a campaign that primarily focused on targeting the al-Qaeda network. President George W. Bush's resolute stance against any government supporting terrorist groups set the stage for significant military interventions in various countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Yemen. This concerted effort to combat terrorism underscored the unwavering commitment of the US and its allies to safeguarding global security.
However, the subsequent shift in the rhetoric during president Barack Obama's tenure and the eventual conclusion of the war on terror in 2013, followed by the symbolic withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in 2021, marked a significant turning point in the trajectory of global counterterrorism efforts.
In light of these historical antecedents, Hamas' recent offensive against Israel has reignited debate about the future trajectory of the global war on terrorism. The international community's response to the ongoing retaliatory strikes between Hamas and Israel has become a focal point of concern, raising questions about whether the events would trigger a renewed commitment to combat terrorism with the same fervor as in the past.
With the conflict’s potential escalation jeopardizing the security interests of the US and its allies, the implications of this escalation for global stability have become increasingly pronounced.
