Join us for Global Crisis Watch Friday October 13th at 10:00 BST as we focus on a conflict that has rapidly captured the world’s attention.
On the morning of October 7th, around 6:30 am local time in Israel, southern Israel was jolted awake by the blaring wails of air raid sirens. Hamas militants launched an unprecedented barrage of rockets directed toward southern and central Israel, with the major cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem among their targets.
This alarming escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has captured global attention. Evidence from security cameras, phone videos and witness accounts show crimes on civilians perpetrated by Hamas gunmen. This wave of violence has left over 1,000 people dead, including women and children, and has sent shockwaves of condemnation rippling through the international community. The UN expressed deep concern over the escalating violence and the heavy toll it exacted on civilians, including the subsequent attacks on targets in Gaza by Israeli forces, which have led to a high level of civilian deaths along with the destruction of much of Gaza’s already denuded infrastructure.
With both Ukraine and Israel in need of assistance, the West is faced with a challenging balancing act. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, arrived unannounced at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels to secure support for Ukraine. Fearing that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas might divert Western support, Zelensky expressed his concerns and emphasized the need for air defense, artillery and ammunition to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty.
This sudden confluence of crises, involving Israel, Palestine, Ukraine and the specter of divergent international priorities, has gripped the world. This is a reminder that in the complex landscape of geopolitics, unpredictability can shatter the most carefully laid diplomatic plans.
Join our discussion on this week’s Global Crisis Watch 246 and add your voice to the conversation that will undoubtedly serve as a valuable record of perspectives and insights in these turbulent times.